GameChange Solar has introduced TopoSmart+, an innovative analysis tool designed to streamline solar tracker installations on challenging terrain. TopoSmart+ enhances cost efficiency for Genius Tracker™ systems by optimizing grading and steel post requirements, reducing overall project expenses for developers and installers.
TopoSmart+ offers advanced features to optimize solar project design and execution. It minimizes combined costs of grading and steel posts through multiple design iterations and employs detailed 3D modeling to customize tracker elevations for site-specific conditions. Compatible with both straight tube and terrain-following configurations of the Genius Tracker, it ensures flexibility and adaptability. The system’s enhanced terrain-following capabilities allow up to a 1-degree change in row tube slope between posts, striking an optimal balance between reduced grading expenses and efficient power production.
For owners seeking terrain-following systems, GameChange provides both moderate and extreme terrain-following options, capable of accommodating up to a 1-degree slope change in the row tube between posts. While allowing higher slope tolerances can help reduce grading costs, it’s crucial to consider the potential voltage mismatches, which can lead to up to a 2% decrease in power production. TopoSmart+ offers a more balanced solution, effectively minimizing tracker installation costs for projects with complex topography while limiting changes in row tube slope to enhance power output. This approach delivers greater value to both project owners and installers.
“Our goal with TopoSmart+ is to offer an efficient, streamlined solution that reduces topography-related costs while ensuring project bankability,” said Anthony Assal, Director of Technical Development. “By optimizing both grading and steel requirements for specific terrain, we provide developers with a cost-effective and high-performance solution for even the most challenging sites.”
GameChange Solar ranks among the top three global providers of solar tracker solutions for utility-scale and ground-mounted solar projects. The company has deployed over 37 GW of tracker and fixed-tilt systems worldwide, combining cutting-edge engineering, innovative designs, and efficient manufacturing. These systems help optimize solar plant performance by enabling panels to track the sun while protecting against harsh weather conditions.
