Back in 2018 Corrie Energy Partners began around the simple question; “If tracking is the future of global solar markets, why doesn’t the UK have any trackers deployed?”
Fast forward 7 years and almost a million pounds of innovation investment – including crucial support from Innovate UK and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) – we are now launching a ground breaking solar tracker technology that could boost solar electricity generation in the UK by up to 30% annually. We call it the Latitude 40.
How does it work?
We have developed patented hardware and innovative software that ensures our solar panels remain optimally aligned with the sun throughout the day – think of it like a field of sunflowers gently following the sun. By doing this we increase the generation of each panel, whilst lowering unit costs and embedded carbon. An added benefit is that this increase in generation occurs at the start and end of each day, when demand peaks, increasing the value of the electricity produced. This means that no upgrade of grid connections is needed as the extra output is gained outside of peak times. This is very valuable when grid connections are the single most important constraint on UK solar , with limited new (costly) capacity and multi-year connection times.
Why hasn’t this been done before?
Conventional trackers are either too expensive or don’t provide enough benefits in northern European climates. So, we developed an entirely new solution tailored for these regions (above 40 degrees latitude). By combining engineering expertise with years of in-depth solar research, our unique tripod design reduces load by an order of magnitude, eliminating bending forces and simplifying maintenance. The design optimises generation from each panel and grid connection, whilst minimising environmental and ecological impact. With the support of funding, we have deployed 25 units on 9 pilots from Sussex to Aberdeenshire and have 28 operating years under our belt!
Funding has also underpinned our strong research partnerships with University of Southampton and The University of Sheffield to fully validate the benefits, including at our dedicated Chilbolton Observatory tracking testbed.
The team are excited to be able to present the Latitude 40 – the result of 7 years of research and innovation and a significant breakthrough for UK solar technology. We look forward to sharing more about our ongoing research and projects.