What Are the Disadvantages of Solar Trackers?

Solar trackers adjust the angle of solar panels to face the sun as directly as possible, thereby improving power generation efficiency. Their advantages are obvious and widely recognized. In projects, however, clients often ask what disadvantages solar trackers may have. As with any product, there are limitations. The main drawbacks of solar trackers are reflected in four areas: initial cost, technical requirements, operation and maintenance (O&M) and suitability for different locations.

Higher Initial Costs

Compared with fixed-tilt mounting systems, solar trackers not only require the basic steel structure but also include motors, sensors, controllers, and transmission mechanisms. These additional components significantly increase the upfront capital expenditure. Typically, horizontal single-axis or vertical single-axis systems cost about 15%–35% more than fixed structures, while dual-axis trackers may be 30%–60% more expensive.

In regions with relatively low electricity prices, this extra investment burden may reduce the overall project return on investment. In other words, while solar trackers can indeed increase energy yield, their economic advantage is not always guaranteed under all circumstances.

Higher Technical Requirements

There are many types of solar tracking systems, with the most common being horizontal single-axis, vertical single-axis, and dual-axis trackers. Each configuration performs differently depending on latitude, terrain, and climate conditions. System design must take into account solar azimuth and altitude, wind load, soil conditions, and solar panel size. Failure to do so may result in high investment but low returns.

For example, in high-wind regions, if the chosen system does not have sufficient wind resistance, the tracker may frequently enter stow mode, drastically reducing the expected energy gains. Additionally, row spacing, angle, and control algorithms directly affect final efficiency and reliability. This makes the design and selection of solar trackers more complex than fixed structures and places higher demands on the technical expertise of both developers and suppliers.

Increased O&M Complexity

Maintenance for fixed-tilt systems is relatively simple. By contrast, solar trackers are electromechanical devices. Motors and drive shafts can wear out due to long-term movement, sensors may fail because of dust, humidity, or electromagnetic interference, and controllers require periodic parameter calibration. If maintenance is neglected, tracking errors or even system shutdowns may occur, directly impacting energy production.

Outdoor conditions such as sand, rain, and salt corrosion also accelerate component aging, posing challenges to long-term reliability. As a result, solar power plants equipped with solar trackers typically need specialized O&M teams, which can be inconvenient in regions where skilled personnel are scarce.

Unsuitable for Low-Light Areas

The core value of solar trackers lies in increasing effective solar irradiation. If the project site has poor solar resources, the use of solar trackers must be carefully evaluated. Two common scenarios illustrate this:

High-latitude regions with short winter days and low solar altitude angles are generally unsuitable for horizontal single-axis trackers.
Regions with frequent cloud cover or heavy rainfall gain very limited benefit from trackers, even if the system operates with high precision.

In such areas, the investment and O&M costs of solar trackers remain fixed, but the additional yield may not be enough to offset these costs, thereby undermining project economics.

Conclusion

From the above four perspectives, the disadvantages of solar trackers mainly lie in higher initial costs, complex system selection, more challenging O&M, and limited adaptability in poor solar resource areas. Their advantages can only be realized under suitable conditions of solar irradiation and reliable O&M systems—not every project is a good fit.

Therefore, during project development, it is crucial to evaluate local resource conditions. During product selection, developers should communicate extensively with suppliers and provide detailed parameters as input for system design. Only then can solar trackers maximize their strengths, minimize their weaknesses, and create real value for the project.