NEXTracker Delivers Advanced Tracker Technology to Largest Solar Power Plant in Western Hemisphere
This grid-connected project of over 750 megawatts will deliver energy to the Northern Mexico region under a long-term contract. Scheduled to enter commercial operation by mid-2018, NEXTracker has shipped over 200 MW to the project site to date.
FREMONT, CA, USA, May 2, 2017 — NEXTracker™, a Flex company, announced today it has started supplying its advanced single-axis trackers to the largest solar power plant in the Western Hemisphere. This grid-connected project of over 750 megawatts will deliver energy to the Northern Mexico region under a long-term contract. Scheduled to enter commercial operation by mid-2018, NEXTracker has shipped over 200 MW to the project site to date.
"It is with a sense of pride that we are witnessing in Mexico the installation of the largest solar power plant in the Western Hemisphere," states Israel Hurtado, General Secretary of ASOLMEX. "The unprecedented scale of this plant, combined with local manufacturing, solar job development and industry leading technology such as NEXTrackers single-axis trackers, represents a huge boost to help us reach a 35 percent renewable energy target by 2024."
The plant is designed to generate about 1,700 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy per year, offsetting annual emissions of more than 780,000 tons of CO2. The plant will cover a land area equivalent to that of lower Manhattan amounting to over eight square miles and will generate enough output to power approximately 1.3 million Mexican households.
Mexicos solar market is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years. The countrys energy ministry has recently awarded more than 4 GW of solar projects to independent power producers via the second renewable energy auction following the nations energy reform in 2014. Most of the utility-scale projects slated for 2017-2018 in Mexico favor solar tracking due to high insolation and ideal land conditions. As part of the ‘sun belt, Mexico receives high annual solar irradiation across 85 percent of the countrys land area.
NEXTracker will manufacture a range of structural, mechanical and electrical components locally for this project. The Companys proven high quality design, coupled with local deployment, installation and commissioning support, are ideal for solar in Mexico. The trackers key drive and electrical components are fully sealed against sand and dust ingress--a critical factor for asset reliability in northern Mexicos desert climate. Notably, this project features NEXTrackers new, internally developed SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. Built on Flexs cyber-secure connected intelligence platform, the system will provide industry-leading control and data collection and management capabilities, enhancing operational control and analysis of NEXTracker components.
About NEXTracker
NEXTracker, a Flex company, advances the power plant of the future with solar tracker and energy storage innovations to increase performance and reduce costs for all size power plants. As the #1 tracker supplier worldwide with 8 GW under contract, NEXTracker is globally recognized for delivering the most advanced photovoltaic solutions for hundreds of projects across five continents. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Company has offices in China, India, Spain, Latin America, and Australia. For more information, visit: NEXTracker.com and follow the Company on Twitter @NEXTracker.
NEXTracker are sponsoring MIREC WEEK next week from 8-12 May. Visit us on stand 39 and join 1500 key players in Mexico's clean energy market place. For more information visit www.mirecweek.com.