Company NewsMarch 1, 2006
Not afraid of the winter
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Since the recent enormous snow falls in Bavaria this February many operators of solar installations wonder how much weight the mounting of their modules can safely endure. Extreme weather conditions like these might be occur more often in the near future. Snow weights of up to 250 kg/m2 are a severe test for solar tracking systems in particular. A sensor-guided solar tracker might drive into horizontal "sleeping" position when its sensor is completely darkened by a thick layer of snow. In this position, the snow weight will easily amount to a couple of tons, pressing on spindle and bearings. For solar parks equipped with LORENTZ tracking systems this is no problem. Their movements are controlled without sensor and keep tracking even under a coat of snow. Furthermore they can easily be driven into the steepest possible position at the push of a button. Snow will accumulate less severely, and whatever does will easily slip off the module surface by the first warming sun rays.  |
Bild pic/dettendorf-02.jpg fehlt "The snow storms in Bavaria have shown that prevention against snow damages is important. So far, most manufacturers concentrated on possible wind damages. But snow weight can lead to temporary failure or even total breakdown. In any case, it means additional wearout and abrasion," says Bernt Lorentz, general manager of LORENTZ. "Preventive snow defence protects the material and increases the output. Why not use a nice winter day to produce energy?" |
LORENTZ Solar parks
Oliver Nave
