Arctech Makes Strong Statement With Latest Trackers For India

Arctech, the world’s leading solar tracking and racking solution provider, attended the Renewable Energy India Expo 2023 (REI Expo) at Greater Noida. The expo is the largest international renewable energy professional exhibition in South Asia, spanning three days.

At the exhibition, the solar tracking system SkyLine II, was in the spotlight with a grand unveiling from the firm. SkyLine II is a flagship product with a special focus on the Indian market. The first 1P (one-in-portrait) tracker designed with a synchronous multi-point drive mechanism enables a new possibility of designing the plant using trackers with identical pile configurations, overcoming the uncertainty faced in the early stage of plant design and construction. The synchronous multi-point drive mechanism technology rigidifies the tracker to the point of enabling 0 deg wind stow mode, hence reducing the difference of wind pressure and post loads between the exterior and interior of the PV plant. By doing so, Skyline II enables a new possibility of designing the plant using trackers with identical pile configurations, overcoming the uncertainty faced in the early stage of plant design and construction.

A seven-year stint In India

Arctech’s journey in India began in 2015, and it has strong portfolio of numerous Giga projects in the country. Notable among these was a 1.7 GW project in 2020 and an even larger 2.8 GW project in 2022. According to 2022 India PV Tracker Market Shares from Wood Mackenzie, Arctech firmly ranks among the Top 3 in the India market.

“Arctech has been illuminating India for the past seven remarkable years, driven by a vision to harness the power of the sun and provide innovative solutions that contribute to a greener and cleaner India,” said Gail Chen, CEO of Arctech India and Jash Energy, its JV in India with an annual  capacity of 3 GW. “Over the years, we have witnessed the remarkable growth and transformation of the solar energy industry in India, and Arctech has been at the forefront of this revolution. In this year’s REI, Arctech once again showcased its advanced solar tracking technology – SkyLine II, attracting lots of visitors, clients, and friends. REI also provides us with a good opportunity to engage with clients, friends, partners, and industry players, we expect to see you again next year!”

Arctech Solar was recognized as India’s largest supplier of solar trackers in 2020, holding a commanding 45% market share in 2021. The company successfully delivered 1.7 GW of advanced 1P SkyLine trackers in Rajasthan despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notable projects include the 860 MW AEML solar power plant, India’s largest bifacial+tracker power generation project, showcasing Arctech’s SkyLine solar tracking solution for complex terrains and extreme weather conditions.

Arctech Solar’s says that its commitment to innovation is evident with over 410 patents, including ownership of the world’s first PV company-owned numerical wind tunnel, vital in advancing India’s clean energy goals. Solar trackers with multi-point drive mechanism technology and smart backtracking algorithms maximize energy yield and reduce carbon emissions.

Realizing Localized Production in India

Arctech’s commitment to localized production in India was showcased through the operational excellence of its joint venture factory, Jash Energy, which, since its inception in August 2022, has an annual capacity of 3 GW. Gail also placed particular emphasis on the company’s customer-centric approach, which has driven increased energy generation, facilitating a substantial reduction in carbon emissions, and fostering job creation throughout India. Arctech’s cutting-edge solar tracking solutions have played an instrumental role in spearheading the nation’s transition towards widespread adoption of clean and sustainable energy. In response to the dynamic changes within policy frameworks, Arctech proactively established a joint venture factory exclusively dedicated to solar trackers within India, aligning seamlessly with the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI).

Last year, Arctech signed a deal to supply 2.8 GW of Skyline II single axis solar trackers in Khavda.

The strong local manufacturing presence is expected to maintain the company’s competitive edge in the Indian market, even as the Adani group itself is expected to pick a significant part of the output.