Dual Tracking Systems Installed in Tennessee

The tracking systems have been installed in four solar fields, which began operation April 14, 2012. Each solar park is equipped with 28 6000NT DEGER trackers and designed to power up to 200 kW. The four small solar farms with “made in the U.S. and Germany” tracking technology are part of the TVA Renewable Energy Program: Generation Partners. TVA, the Tennessee Valley Authority, is a non-profit corporation owned by the United States government that supplies electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA also assists state and local governments with economic development, in addition to providing flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system.

DEGERenergie manufactures solar tracking systems and operates two production facilities in North America. The aluminum parts for the systems are supplied by Hydro Aluminum Extrusion Americas. This is the first project DEGERenergie completed together with its partner, Hydro Aluminum, in the United States. In Europe, DEGERenergie has been working with Hydro a lengthy period of time. Now, both companies have expanded their collaboration to the U.S. market.

The 6000NT DEGERtraker is an innovative dual-axis solar tracking system that aligns the solar modules to the brightest source in the sky at all times, ensuring maximum yield. Thanks to this technology, DEGERenergie systems generate up to 45 percent more energy than fixed installations. The rails of the DEGERtraker are made of impact extruded aluminum by Hydro. This material combines efficient consumption of raw material with comparatively low costs and rapid development cycles. Aluminum is corrosion resistant and highly stable; therefore the systems withstand high wind speeds and have a long service life.

Greg Brock, co-founder and principal for Apex Constructions Services: “The DEGERenergie tracking systems are working fabulously on the 112 units we installed. I am looking forward to installing many more trackers and especially more of my own…” Allan Bennett, vice president of solar market development for Hydro’s Extrusion North America unit, asserted that “DEGERenergie’s design calls for very tight tolerances. Our engineering, combined with DEGERenergie’s staff in Germany and production groups here had to go above and beyond the usual to get this just right. Now we are working with them on some alloy choices that might help us make it even tighter than they originally called out.” Adam Jan Glapiak, sales manager for DEGERenergie North America, stated, “Our tried and tested MLD technology and our well organized partner network in Tennessee have paved our way. Not only is this a key project with which we provide cost-efficient solar energy in the supply area of TVA, but also an important contribution to environmental protection in Tennessee.”

The American partners and the responsible project managers for Apex were impressed by how quickly the construction teams managed to install the first tracker. Mr. Brock proclaims, “Our team got really excited about the simple assembly and DEGERenergie’s support during installation. We are enthusiastic about the DEGER trackers and we are already planning further projects with our partners.”