Mechatron Solar has just completed an Independent Bankability Report by specialized engineering firm Black & Veatch, providing risk analysis of the patented 90-panel M18KD dual-axis solar tracker, the largest and most powerful in the industry. The report also covers the M18KD-20 carport tracker and the company's expanded manufacturing facility in Stockton, which now has an annual production capacity of 200 MW of trackers. 

"Black & Veatch is of the opinion that the gearless design of the M18KD Tracker is unique compared to other tracker systems in the industry," the analysts state. The unusually high-yield M18KD tracker – generating 40% more energy than ground-mount frameworks and 20% more than single-axis trackers -- has the highest energy density of all solar mounting designs. With a single mast, the tracker also has the smallest ground footprint in the solar market, ideal for carports and other constrained sites.

Among unique design elements, "The M18KD Tracker features a centralized hydraulic drive system which allows the Tracker to be installed on sites with uneven terrain," the analysts noted. Considering the 15-foot-high panel table, "Black & Veatch believes that the height of the foundation makes the tracker the ideal solution for agricultural and carport applications," they said. 

Bifacial panels also perform better on the M18KD, they analysts suggest: "The tall foundation may also enhance the power output of Trackers using bifacial modules." 

In terms of inherent safety design, "Black & Veatch observed that the gearless braking mechanism provides automatic protection capabilities and is patented by Mechatron," the analysts said. Mechatron recently designed and now produces a version of the M18KD that can withstand windspeeds of at least 135 mph.

Mechatron's next-generation gearless ball-bearing tracker design has demonstrated unparalleled operational stability and resilience, operating continuously across widely varied site conditions. The warrantied 99.9% uptime demonstrated by the M18KD is the highest availability of any system in the solar tracking industry. The tracker also presents the lowest maintenance cost over the duration of the project lifespan. As a result, the Return on Investment term for a Mechatron tracker is typically less than four years.

Among certifications, "Mechatron has achieved UL 3703 - Standard for Solar Trackers certification for the M18KD Tracker System. Black & Veatch reviewed the UL 3703 test report issued by SolarPTL on June 20, 2022," the analysts noted. 

With the completion of the report and certification, EPCs increasingly will turn to the Mechatron Solar technology solution for C&I projects where high-yield is an economic necessity, where installation sites may be constrained – by uneven terrain or by urban land-use criteria, and where high reliability is critical to O&M financial projections.

Mechatron Solar | https://mechatron-solar.com