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by rl_for_energy 1518 days ago
So large solar farms are usually single-axis tracking, which provides a huge energy production benefit over static panels. Consider this panel's application more for a standalone installment, where it could make sense to use a dual-axis tracking panel over a single-axis or static panel. Re: solar farms and cost, I actually learned that around ~70% of the cost of solar installation is soft costs, not the actual panels/solar cells etc. Applying RL to much larger installations would be about finding non-obvious ways to leverage the single-axis tracking when the sun is not directly overheard. A fun problem for the future :)
1 comments
algo_trader 1518 days ago
> around ~70% of the cost of solar installation is soft costs

This is incorrect, especially for solar farms

Panels are indeed only about 1/3 of the cost. Additional components, labour, inverter, mounting - another 1/3.

The last third is indeed soft(ish) cost, but this includes profit (duh..), certification, survey, tax, fees, etc. This can be reduced, but it is not going to magically disappear ...

Another fun fact : newer mega farms in low-altitude deserts are considering no-axis no-mounting zero-tilt - just laying the panels on the ground ... It all comes down to cost vs yield

A nice project by the way. Did you ever compare the results to pre-calculated angles based on time/location/season?

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ncmncm 1518 days ago
Farmers are placing them mounted vertically, like fences, in productive fields, running north/south, far enough apart to run a tractor between. They pick up power in morning and afternoon. The crops benefit from reduced heat stress and water loss, and yield more.

Panels that work with light from either side are preferred for this use.

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conradev 1518 days ago
If it’s not hardware (panels, inverters, brackets, etc) it is considered a soft cost.

NREL’s model puts soft costs at 44% for a 100MW fixed-tilt utility-scale plant in 2021:

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/80694.pdf

The percentage goes up as the installation size goes down, but it is not 70%

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sbierwagen 1518 days ago
>low altitude

Low latitude?

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