Solar Tracking Systems

Bithenergy engineered and installed one of the first solar tracking systems in Howard County. The tracking system in Clarksville is part of a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) that also includes solar hot water and a SkyStream wind turbine. The owners invested in the system to lessen dependence on foreign oil, reduce the property's carbon footprint, cut energy cost, and provide a training environment for Bithenergy renewable energy technicians and engineers.

A tracking system was chosen over conventional fixed configurations because it increases the time a panel receives direct sunlight, making the system roughly 20 to 30% more efficient. The plane of the panels rotates over two axes, keeping a superior angle of incidence as the sun moves across the sky: more power from less real estate. The owners expect a 75% reduction in energy cost.