Recent hailstorms—once considered rare—have already caused millions of dollars in damage across utility-scale sites. In a recent joint webinar, ARRAY and VDE Americas shared hard-won lessons and real-world data showing how smart stow protocols and real-time weather response can dramatically reduce site losses during extreme hail events.

If minimizing claims, reducing downtime, reducing insurance costs, and protecting long-term levelized cost of energy (LCOE) are priorities for your next project, check out the following to gain a better understanding of key points that could help you to turn weather risk into a manageable, strategic advantage.



The Growing Threat of Extreme Weather

Storms like the 2024 Fort Bend County hailstorms in Texas—events that shattered panels across utility-scale solar fields—aren’t outliers anymore. They’re the new reality, and a clear reminder that weather resilience strategies should be built into projects from day one.

Innovations that Strengthen Solar Resilience

ARRAY’s technology portfolio is designed with extreme weather conditions in mind, offering solutions that balance energy generation with asset protection:

• Passive Wind Stow Technology: Mechanically allows tracker rows to move to a safe position when wind-activated without relying on sensors or electronics, helping preserve system reliability during high wind events.
• ARRAY SmarTrack® Hail Alert Response: Uses advanced weather APIs to send real-time alerts and trigger automated stow commands tailored to specific site conditions. Proactively positions trackers before and during severe weather events to reduce damage risk. Provides a built-in end-to-end functionality and communications verification platform to minimize complex counterparty risks.
• ARRAY SmarTrack® Automated Snow Response: Uses ultrasonic snow depth sensors to identify snow accumulation and intelligently adjust trackers to maximum tilt angle.

Field Insights: Fort Bend County Case Study

Real-world data provides the clearest Illustration: resilience strategies can dramatically impact outcomes. In the aftermath of the two major hailstorms hitting Fort Bend County within 12 hours, VDE Americas conducted a forensic analysis across affected solar sites.

Key findings included:

• These large sites had more severe module hail risk exposures: 2mm glass-glass construction, a maximum tilt angle of 52 degrees, and large hail strikes.
• Sites using ARRAY’s defensive hail stow protocols experienced demonstrably less module damage.
• Reliable tracker stow activation made a measurable difference in minimizing asset loss.
• Nighttime stow procedures were critical, as both hailstorms occurred outside normal operating hours with the largest hailstorm occurring in the middle of the night.

Top Priorities for Effective Hail Stow: 

1. Tracker Stow Activation: Ensuring that the tracker system moves to its designated stow position quickly is paramount. ARRAY’s DuraTrack® with Hail Alert Response has demonstrated consistent success in all rows on the site, achieving maximum stow angles for effective protection.
2. Stow Direction Relative to Wind: Trackers should be stowed away from the incoming wind to minimize the impact of hail. ARRAY’s Hail Alert Response System allows customizable stow directions, enhancing resilience against hail and wind damage.
3. High Stow Angle: Stowing at steeper angles, like the 52-degree angle used by DuraTrack®, has proven to effectively withstand hail impacts of 75mm or larger. This provides better protection for solar modules. ARRAY has also announced a new 77-degree stow angle product for extreme weather sites with larger hail exposures.

ARRAY’s Solution to the Wind and Hail Stow Angle Dilemma

One of the biggest challenges for site operators is balancing hail and wind protection—often forced to choose one at the expense of the other. A high angle tilt is often optimal for hail while a low angle tilt is usually preferred for wind. ARRAY’s hybrid active-passive stow technology solves this stow dilemma:

• Passive Stow Efficiency: Passive stow is wind activated and only impacts rows experiencing high winds. High wind forces will cause effected rows to quickly slip to the nearest maximum tilt angle, minimally affecting hail risk.
• Minimizing Energy Loss: The mechanics of passive stow cause only the rows experiencing high winds to stow, while unaffected rows continue normal operation—maximizing full energy yield capture on all other unstowed rows without compromising tracker safety.

This engineered approach delivers greater site resilience without materially sacrificing operational efficiency or project yield compared to other tracker products.

Future-Proofing Solar Investments

The future of utility-scale solar depends on proactive weather risk management. Innovations like ARRAY’s high-angle stow solutions and advanced modeling tools are already reshaping site design strategies:

• High-Angle Trackers: Provide critical protection during increasingly severe hailstorms.
• Yield Modeling Advancements: New energy loss models show passive stow systems can significantly lower yield loss compared to conventional active-only stow solutions, improving long-term project returns.

Actionable Takeaways for Stakeholders

If you’re planning your next utility-scale project—or evaluating risk strategies for an existing portfolio— here are some critical action steps that you should take into consideration:

1. Implement hail stow protocols customized to your site’’s risk profile.
2. Leverage real-time forecasting and automated stow solutions like the ARRAY SmarTrack® Hail Alert Response.
3. Choose field-proven, engineering-driven technologies like ARRAY’s DuraTrack® to balance performance and protection.

Industry Outlook: Turning Risk into Resilience

As the industry adapts to a new era of climate volatility, proven resilience strategies are becoming a non-negotiable part of solar success. With innovations built for real-world challenges, ARRAY and VDE Americas are helping project owners protect investments—and power the future with confidence.

Learn more about ARRAY’s SmarTrack® Hail Alert Response or explore additional insights from VDE Americas.

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Solar Landscapes are Changing

Sites with irregular or fragmented boundaries without reliable grid availability during extreme weather conditions are increasingly common. Site owners; engineering, procurement, and construction professionals; and solar investors need solutions to make these sites profitable. High project costs and lengthy installation times can be major obstacles upfront.

ARRAY’s New Tracker Solutions: ARRAY DuraTrack with SkyLink & ARRAY OmniTrack with SkyLink

The ARRAY SkyLink tracker system enhances the performance and efficiency of our DuraTrack® and OmniTrack utility-scale solar trackers. This innovative solution includes an eight-linked-row architecture with passive wind mitigation, PV string-powered brushless DC motor, Zigbee wireless communication, and the full suite of SmarTrack features.

In this white paper, you’ll learn more about:

• Key features and benefits of SkyLink: This innovative solution includes an eight-linked-row architecture with passive wind mitigation, PV string-powered brushless DC motor, Zigbee wireless communication, and the full suite of SmarTrack features.
• Significant cost savings: Its streamlined design reduces costs related to trenching, wiring, and electrical supply needs. Coupled with easy-to-carry parts and zero specialized tools, SkyLink can reduce project costs and improve installation timelines.
• Greater flexibility and reliability: SkyLink’s PV-powered control system enables tracker movement regardless of grid status, ideal for extreme weather conditions, including heavy snow and hail. Its eight-row architecture also allows greater flexibility within a site layout, especially when paired with OmniTrack.

Why SkyLink?

SkyLink maintains the leading benefits you’ve come to depend on with DuraTrack and OmniTrack while offering greater flexibility and optimization. It reduces dependence on power grids, expanding viable geographic areas for ARRAY solar PV trackers to be installed around the world.

Ready to learn more?

Complete the form below to download our whitepaper to learn more about how ARRAY DuraTrack with SkyLink and ARRAY OmniTrack with SkyLink can benefit your solar projects.

The post How ARRAY’s New SkyLink Tracker System Reduces Project Costs appeared first on ARRAY Technologies.

The Challenge of High Winds

When wind speeds reach certain thresholds, solar modules can experience vibrations and rotations that may lead to structural damage or even module failure. Traditional active stow strategies, though necessary, often result in significant energy losses. ARRAY’s passive wind stow technology changes the game, minimizing energy losses and reducing the risk of damage.

ARRAY’s Solution: Passive Wind Stow Technology

Validated by independent engineering and design firm DNV, ARRAY’s passive wind stow technology significantly reduces average annual energy losses to just 0.05%, compared to the 2.8% from active strategies. This innovative approach ensures that most of the solar rows continue tracking normally, even in high wind conditions, minimizing disruptions and maximizing energy production.

Our passive stow technology has been rigorously tested and validated. DNV’s study confirmed that “for the cases selected for this study, generally, losses from the passive stow cases were lower than those from active stow strategies…” This validation underscores the efficiency and reliability of our technology in real-world conditions.

Financial and Operational Benefits

• Reduced Energy Losses: Passive stow technology limits energy losses during high wind events to just 0.05% on average, maintaining up to 99.95% energy retention.
• Enhanced Structural Integrity: Minimizes the risks of microcracking and other damage to solar panels, ensuring longer life and better performance.
• Improved Bankability: With higher energy outputs and reduced risk, projects become more viable and attractive to investors, enhancing the overall financial profile and reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE).

Key Findings of the Study

• 0.05% average energy loss with passive stow: Demonstrates our commitment to high efficiency and energy retention.
• 2.8% average energy loss with active stow: Highlights the inefficiencies of conventional methods.
• 4.3% highest energy loss with active stow: Shows the potential risk of sticking with other technologies.

Why Choose ARRAY’s Passive Wind Stow Technology?

As weather events become more severe and frequent, choosing the right stow strategy is crucial for the longevity and profitability of your solar projects. ARRAY’s passive wind stow technology not only protects your physical assets but also secures your financial outcomes and operational stability.

Ready to Enhance Your Solar Efficiency?

Download our whitepaper to learn more about how ARRAY’s passive wind stow technology can benefit your solar projects. Complete the form below to access cutting-edge insights that can transform your approach to managing solar energy in high-wind scenarios.

The post Is Wind Costing You? Discover How Duratrack’s Passive Stow Solves the Energy Drain appeared first on ARRAY Technologies.

The Dominican Republic (DR) is in the process of overhauling its power grid. The goal is to generate 25% of the country’s power from renewable sources by 2025 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. However, building out a reliable clean power grid in unpredictable weather proved to be challenging.

The need for extreme weather management called for a photovoltaic (PV) tracker with proven dependability in real-world settings. This case study looks at:

• the challenge of building out a reliable clean power grid in unpredictable weather,
• what made ARRAY’s DuraTrack the solution to the extreme weather challenge, and
• the results and increase in solar capacity.

In the same way technology constantly evolves at an exponential pace, ARRAY continues to innovate. The DuraTrack system has continued to evolve with numerous installation advantages introduced since the original Alamosa installation.

Download our Dominican Republic case study for all the details!

The post Why the First Dominican Republic Solar Tracking Site Chose ARRAY Trackers: Case Study appeared first on ARRAY Technologies.

With its geographic location, Türkiye has favorable attributes for renewable sources of energy, particularly solar. However, usable land for solar can be hard to find in Turkey and the terrain can be extreme.

The Kıvanç-2 GES project, in Gülnar, Mersin, Türkiye, adds a generous 52.5 MWp of solar to the grid and sits atop a mountain at an altitude of 1,100 meters. The north side of the site features a sharp cliff with a 600-meter altitude difference facing strong winds during the winter and summer. With these harsh conditions, solar trackers capable of withstanding high wind conditions were essential.

In this case study, we look at the solutions and results provided by ARRAY DuraTrack®, including:

• Tackling uneven landscapes and various soil compositions,
• Tight deadlines and logistics surrounding equipment delivery,
• Unpredictable wind and weather conditions, and more!

Working to actively solve problems on the ground with STC Solar while delivering the most dependable single-axis tracker on the market made for a successful and visually stunning final product that is making Türkiye’s aggressive renewable energy goals possible.

Download our FREE case study to learn more!

The post Türkiye Project Pushing the Boundaries of Utility-scale Solar Chooses ARRAY DuraTrack: Case Study appeared first on ARRAY Technologies.

With ample sunshine, Jordan is a prime location for solar. However, high corrosion and heat levels near the saline-heavy Dead Sea pose challenges for the installation and longevity of solar tracking structures. ARRAY’s DuraTrack® HZ v3 solar trackers proved the perfect solution to meet these challenges.

At 254 meters below sea level, the location is one of the lowest points on earth and features an extra-terrestrial environment with high heat and corrosive salt levels. Batteries would be problematic in this area, due to their inability to withstand extreme high temperatures. High power density and reliable solar trackers resilient against corrosion would be crucial to the project’s success.

Quick and Easy to Install

Kits preassembled off-site saved time for the installers, getting the project online faster and keeping labor costs low. With a single clamp per module, one fastener per clamp, and 15,000 fewer fasteners per megawatt than competitors.

Harsh Environment? No Problem.

Without the need for batteries, temperatures reaching 100ºF (38ºC) and corrosive elements are no issue for ARRAY’s DuraTrack HZ v3 in this extra-terrestrial environment.

Download our FREE case study to learn more about the installation and durability benefits of the DuraTrack HZ v3 in harsh environments.

The post Dead Sea / Karameh, Jordan appeared first on ARRAY Technologies.

With its combination of quick delivery, installation efficiencies, and a unique technical design that requires no scheduled maintenance, the DuraTrack HZ v3 is the perfect tracking solution for utility-scale solar projects, particularly in regions that present challenging terrain or meteorological conditions.

For example, the 131 MW (dc) Lamesa Solar Facility in Dawson County, Texas experienced inclement weather immediately after groundbreaking, threatening the delivery schedule and installation of project components planned for the initial weeks. However, ARRAY’s installation-efficient solar trackers sped up construction rates, completing the project on schedule, with the following benefits:

Fewer Onsite Workers

Installing roughly 81 tracker rows per working day, the Lamesa site required 25% fewer onsite workers compared to other solar tracking projects of comparable size.

Quick Commissioning Period

Originally expecting a 15-day commissioning period, ARRAY’s trackers saved five working days, completing project commissioning well ahead of schedule.

Download our FREE case study to learn more about the Lamesa Solar Facility and the delivery and installation benefits of the DuraTrack HZ v3.

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Türkiye has made tremendous strides in the development of its renewable energy sector, with perhaps most notably, the allocation of more than two billion dollars for the production of wind and solar energy. These sources of funding, or tenders, are part of Türkiye’s ambitious plans for the future of renewables and a holistic set of economic growth targets.

Türkiye plans to increase solar utilization rates and areas of operation, while maximizing production from their current capacity. The country’s current installed capacity is around 3 GW and a minimum of 10 GW is the target goal for 2030. To help accomplish this, Türkiye has vowed that the latest technological advancements will be observed and implemented. With this in mind, Turkish solar developer, STC Elektronik partnered with ARRAY to develop a portfolio of solar projects, totaling 24 MW.

Download our FREE case study to learn more about the Türkiye solar projects and extreme terrain flexibility of the DuraTrack HZ v3.

The post Aydin, Türkiye appeared first on ARRAY Technologies.

Australian households currently pay the highest energy prices in the world. As a result of high gas and electricity prices, utilities have been compelled to provide homes and businesses with greener and more cost-effective renewable energy sources of power. With additional financial support from the local government, the region has become an unstoppable hotspot for utility-scale solar installations like the ARRAY-powered Parkes Solar Farm in New South Wales.

For 18 weeks, the project site saw the installation of 2,300 tracker rows and 206,000 photovoltaic (PV) modules. Altogether, the site spans 600 acres and provides 66 megawatts (dc) of renewable energy, enough to power 21,000 local homes.

Streamlined Design

The DuraTrack HZ v3 boasts a streamlined design and a high amount of upfront kitting, requiring no additional bolting or explicit row alignment to install the system.

Quick Installation

The v3’s streamlined design allowed a team of 70 onsite workers to install the project in just 110 days, including all structural, mechanical and electrical components of the project.

Download our FREE case study to learn more about the Parkes Solar Farm and the streamlined design and installation benefits of the DuraTrack HZ v3.

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The meaning of the word Cantil is “steep rock,” which gives some insight into exactly what designers were looking at for this solar site in Southern California. Cantil, California, lies between the Mojave Desert and the Red Rock Canyon.

With project site specs including uneven ground necessitating multiple row-to-row spacing and five foundation sizes, creative site design and clear vision were essential. Add in a high-wind environment, desert flood depth zones, and the need for seismic impact parameters in this earthquake-prone region, the engineers had their work cut out for them.

Download our FREE case study to learn more about the installation and durability benefits of the DuraTrack HZ v3 in complex environments.

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