Traditional solar panels which track the sun throughout the day to optimise energy production are being made obsolete by a new east-west system, according to Xavier Derdenback on Terraform Industries.
Although the east-west system produces less energy during the day than a tracking system, the lower installation costs and use of less land make it more cost-effective.
East-west systems consist of parallel strings of PV modules facing in opposite directions, effectively capturing sunlight from dawn until dusk and providing power generation throughout the day.
Previously, solar panels would be mounted facing south to increase solar output, however, there is now a greater demand for east/west orientations.
This is because the amount offered for solar power generation is becoming variable, with moments of negative prices during peak delivery, therefore east-west pointing panels would generate energy more evenly throughout the day.
