FTC Solar Launches Hurricane-Resistant Solar Tracker System

• FTC Solar's Pioneer+ High Wind tracker withstands 150 mph winds, enhancing solar resilience and reducing costs in hurricane-prone areas with innovative design and rapid installation.

FTC Solar has launched a 1P single-axis tracker system, Pioneer+ High Wind, engineered to endure hurricane-class winds up to 150 mph. The system features reinforced components and a wind-direction-agnostic stow capability, designed to reduce hardware and expedite installation. This innovation addresses the reclassification of wind design thresholds in high-risk areas like the US Southeast and coastal markets, where thresholds have increased from 113 mph to over 130 mph. The tracker aims to enhance resilience and lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by minimizing foundation depth and maintaining energy production during stow events.

The introduction of this tracker is significant as extreme weather risks, such as hurricanes, hail, and cold snaps, have become critical considerations in utility-scale solar projects. FTC Solar's system, which is broadly module-agnostic, aligns with recent advancements in hail and cold-weather performance. As insurers and financiers tighten underwriting standards, structural design, stow logic, and site-specific wind modeling are expected to be key factors in 2026 requests for proposals (RFPs), making such systems potentially essential for coastal solar developments.

How does FTC Solar's Pioneer+ High Wind tracker address extreme weather challenges in solar projects?

• Designed to withstand hurricane-class winds up to 150 mph, addressing the increased wind design thresholds in high-risk areas.
  
• Features reinforced components to enhance durability and resilience against extreme weather conditions.
  
• Incorporates a wind-direction-agnostic stow capability, allowing the system to efficiently manage wind loads from any direction.
  
• Aims to reduce hardware complexity and expedite installation, contributing to lower project costs.
  
• Minimizes foundation depth, which can reduce construction time and costs while maintaining structural integrity.
  
• Maintains energy production during stow events, helping to lower the levelized cost of energy (LCOE).
  
• Broadly module-agnostic, allowing compatibility with various solar panel types and advancements in hail and cold-weather performance.
• Aligns with evolving insurance and financing requirements, which are increasingly focused on structural design and site-specific wind modeling.
• Positioned to meet the demands of future requests for proposals (RFPs) in coastal and high-risk areas, where extreme weather considerations are critical.