What style of Tracker is this?

[J.P.M.]

I was also interested in the structure of the building and how it held up such a massive array. Here is my final pic showing inside of the storage unit that was open.
I was tempted to go inside to take pictures of the inside structure, but being your typical nice law abiding Canadian, that didn't seem right.
So this is the best I have for my 5+ hour drive out there. It looks just to rely on the triangular support structure of the building?
Inside was basically empty for storage of pallets of farming chemicals, which I've blanked out.

My guess is more than a usual amount of any beef in the support structure goes to support the wind load and vibration dampening.

As for politeness and not getting snagged by the OPP, sorrreee about that ehh ?

Thanx again for the flix.

Regards,

[MikeCanuck]

I was also interested in the structure of the building and how it held up such a massive array. Here is my final pic showing inside of the storage unit that was open.
I was tempted to go inside to take pictures of the inside structure, but being your typical nice law abiding Canadian, that didn't seem right.
So this is the best I have for my 5+ hour drive out there. It looks just to rely on the triangular support structure of the building?
Inside was basically empty for storage of pallets of farming chemicals, which I've blanked out.

[jonatuna]

One reason that these are on rooftop might be Ontario's Feed in Tarrif (FIT) program. Prices are / were higher for roof top than for ground mount, and depending on when they were installed it may have been worth it to go with roof mount. When we installed in 2012, contract prices were $.548/kWh for roof mount between 10 and 100kW, and $0.388 for ground mount. Maybe then the extra costs is balanced out by 40% higher revenues? More so, if you needed storage buildings as well...

'tuna

[J.P.M.]

Probably some pretty big columns or a steel structure that can withstand high winds. Not something most home owners will be able to build.

Yea, I think my HOA would have a problem with such an array configuration.

But, as a professional curiosity, I'd still like to get a look at the design under the skin, particularly the foundation details.
.
In terms of cost, I'd have a hard time thinking such a design could be as cost effective as the solar farm configuration that is common in the U.S. and elsewhere using rows of single axis tracking, but perhaps the cost/worth of land removed from use for other/dual use is a consideration as well as snow removal, although I can't see an advantage to the pictured design for maint./snow removal.

Over the years, I've come to respect Canadian design approaches as being innovative and in my engineering opinion, usually/often quite elegant and original, but this one's a head scratcher for me.

[Higher-Ground Farm]

Wow, about 44KW ! 220 panels times about 200W?

[SunEagle]

Just a guess here but if these are typical 72 cell panels using 5" cells, (160-190 watt) this array would be approx. 43 x 76 feet , 14 x 16, 32" x 65" panels. That's one heckuva large rack to keep from blowing apart in a wind storm. Quite impressive.

It seems that design is installed in a lot of places around Ontario. My guess is that they all come from the same designer.

[littleharbor]

Just a guess here but if these are typical 72 cell panels using 5" cells, (160-190 watt) this array would be approx. 43 x 76 feet , 14 x 16, 32" x 65" panels. That's one heckuva large rack to keep from blowing apart in a wind storm. Quite impressive.

[SunEagle]

single axis trackers at ~ 20 deg. tilt. The array portion looks structurally robust enough, but I'd like to see what's under the building skin and the footings and then how or if such a design is considered cost effective.

Thanx for the flix.

Probably some pretty big columns or a steel structure that can withstand high winds. Not something most home owners will be able to build.

[J.P.M.]

here are some more close ups, i guess I missed taking a good close up of the tracker underside thinking it was fixed

Higher-Ground Farm: man, i guess you're surrounded by rich farmers and their toy projects

single axis trackers at ~ 20 deg. tilt. The array portion looks structurally robust enough, but I'd like to see what's under the building skin and the footings and then how or if such a design is considered cost effective.

Thanx for the flix.

[MikeCanuck]

here are some more close ups, i guess I missed taking a good close up of the tracker underside thinking it was fixed

Higher-Ground Farm: man, i guess you're surrounded by rich farmers and their toy projects

[SunEagle]

Not sure if they are bigger than these, but there is another series of buildings like this near where I live too. I will have to get down there again, and fly my drone over them to get a good look.

Those show up on the May 2015 Google Earth photos and look very similar to the ones in the other photos. Maybe designed and installed by the same company.

[Higher-Ground Farm]

Here is a street view.

[Higher-Ground Farm]

Not sure if they are bigger than these, but there is another series of buildings like this near where I live too. I will have to get down there again, and fly my drone over them to get a good look.

[SunEagle]

They are single axis trackers. In picture #6 you attached, you can clearly see the actuators or hydraulic rams on the top and bottom pivot points. You can also see the clearance in the pivots that allows it to rotate toward the camera.

I agree with you. This system has the ability to track the sun in one direction. Probably from East to West. Someone spent a lot of money to build those things.

Also Google Earth does not show them back in Sept 2015 so they must have just been installed.

[emartin00]

They are single axis trackers. In picture #6 you attached, you can clearly see the actuators or hydraulic rams on the top and bottom pivot points. You can also see the clearance in the pivots that allows it to rotate toward the camera.