Solar Trackers for Power Generation: How They Work, Where the Market Is Going, and What It Means in Hawaii

Solar Trackers for Power Generation: How They Work, Where the Market Is Going, and What It Means in Hawaii

Solar trackers come up more and more in conversations about how the world generates electricity. Large solar farms increasingly mount their panels on equipment that follows the sun across the sky, and industry research firms now treat the solar tracker for power generation market as its own category. If you're a Hawaii homeowner or an Oʻahu business owner comparing solar options, you'll probably wonder whether any of this applies to your property.

Our team has been installing solar in Hawaii since 1993, with more than 59 MW installed across the islands. Here's a plain-language look at what solar trackers are, why the utility-scale market relies on them, and how tracking compares with a well-designed fixed system on your own roof.

What Is a Solar Tracker?

A solar tracker is a mounting system that moves solar panels so they face the sun more directly through the day. A standard rooftop system is fixed: the panels sit at one angle and orientation, set by your roof. A tracker uses motors, gears and a controller to tilt the panels as the sun moves from east to west. Some designs also follow the sun's height in the sky as the seasons change.

The idea is simple. Panels produce the most power when sunlight hits them straight on. The more of the day a panel spends pointed at the sun, the more energy it can collect.

How Solar Tracking Systems Increase Energy Output

A fixed panel gets its best light in a window around midday. In the morning and late afternoon, sunlight arrives at a sharper angle and output drops. A tracker widens that productive window by turning the panels to meet the morning and afternoon sun.

• A broader production curve: more energy in the morning and late afternoon, not just at noon.
• More output from the same panels: the gain comes from where the panels point, not from adding more of them.
• A better match to evening demand: late-afternoon production can line up more closely with when homes and businesses use power.

How much extra energy a tracker delivers depends on latitude, weather, cloud patterns, shading and the type of tracker. Results depend on the site, which is why published estimates vary widely. [CONFIRM: whether to cite a specific NREL or manufacturer range for tracker output gain, or keep this qualitative]

Types of Solar Trackers

Single-Axis Trackers

Single-axis trackers turn on one axis. Usually it runs north to south, so the panels swing from east to west through the day. They're mechanically simpler than dual-axis units and cost less to build and maintain. They're the most common tracker on large solar farms.

Dual-Axis Trackers

Dual-axis trackers move on two axes, following both the sun's daily path and its seasonal height. They can aim panels more precisely, but they have more moving parts, need more space, and cost more to install and service. You'll find them in specialty and concentrated solar projects more often than in mainstream ones.

The Solar Tracker for Power Generation Market

Market research firms study solar trackers as a separate segment of the power generation industry. Their reports generally divide the market the same way:

• By axis type: single-axis and dual-axis. Single-axis has the larger share because it's cheaper and simpler.
• By application: utility-scale and non-utility (commercial, industrial and other). Utility-scale projects are the largest segment.
• By technology: standard photovoltaic and concentrated photovoltaic.
• By connection: grid-connected, which makes up most of the market, and off-grid.
• By region: Asia Pacific is often named as the fastest-growing region, with North America close behind.

One widely cited report from MarketsandMarkets put the global solar tracker market at about USD 10.3 billion in 2024 and projected about USD 22.9 billion by 2029. Other firms' forecasts differ. These numbers describe global utility-scale trends, not anything a homeowner should budget around.

What Is Driving Market Growth

• Clean energy targets and government incentives for renewable power.
• Continued investment in large solar farms, where getting more energy from each panel matters.
• Better tracker hardware, including smarter controls, remote monitoring, and software that adjusts panel angle for weather and shading.

What Holds It Back

• Higher upfront cost than fixed racking.
• More complex installation, plus ongoing maintenance of motors and other moving parts.
• Land and spacing needs that don't suit tight or rooftop sites.

Where Solar Trackers Make Sense

Trackers pay off where there's open land, a large array, and a crew to maintain moving equipment. That describes utility-scale solar farms and some large commercial or agricultural ground-mount projects. In Hawaii, tracking is most likely to be considered for utility-scale projects on Oʻahu and the neighbor islands. [CONFIRM: any specific Hawaii utility-scale project known to use trackers, if you want to name one]

Why Most Hawaii Homes Use Fixed Rooftop Systems

For a typical home on Oʻahu, a tracker is rarely the right tool. The reasons are practical:

• Your roof doesn't move: rooftop trackers are uncommon, add weight and wind load, and complicate roof penetrations.
• Wind and salt air: moving parts exposed to trade winds and coastal corrosion need more upkeep.
• Space: ground-mount trackers need yard space that most residential lots don't have.
• Permits and interconnection: ground-mount and non-standard equipment can add steps to county permitting and HECO review.
• Better options: a good panel layout, quality modules and battery storage usually do more for a household than tracking hardware.

Under HECO's current programs, how you use your solar energy often matters as much as how much you produce. Pairing panels with a battery such as a Tesla Powerwall lets you store daytime production for the evening and for outages. To see how panels, inverters and batteries work together, read our overview of how solar works in Hawaii. To see how storage has fit into utility programs, visit our HECO battery program page.

What About Commercial Properties on Oʻahu?

Small and mid-size commercial owners sometimes have more room to work with, such as parking lots or open land. Even so, most commercial projects on Oʻahu use fixed rooftop arrays or solar carports. These keep costs and maintenance predictable and use space that's already paved or built on. A tracker is only worth discussing when there's suitable open ground and it makes financial sense for your specific site.

Getting the Most From a Fixed System

If a tracker isn't a fit, you can still get strong production from your property:

• A smart layout: put panels on the roof sections with the best sun and the least shade.
• Roof condition first: installing on a sound roof means you won't have to remove panels later for roof work. Our in-house crews handle roofing as well as solar.
• Battery storage: move daytime energy into the evening and keep essentials running during outages.
• Monitoring and maintenance: catch a drop in production early instead of months later.

Incentives and Tax Credits

Hawaii's solar tax credit rules have been changing, including updates tied to Act 24 (SB3125), and federal rules have shifted too. Eligibility depends on your situation and timing, so we don't treat any credit as settled. Our guide to Hawaii solar tax credits and incentives sums up what we know. A qualified tax professional can tell you how the rules apply to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do solar trackers work on residential roofs?

Rarely. Trackers are designed mainly for ground-mount and utility-scale projects. Most homes in Hawaii are better served by a well-planned fixed rooftop system, often paired with a battery.

Is a single-axis or dual-axis tracker better?

Dual-axis trackers follow the sun more precisely. Single-axis trackers are simpler and cheaper, which is why they dominate large solar farms.

Why is the solar tracker market growing?

Mostly because of utility-scale solar construction, clean energy targets, and better tracker controls and reliability.

Do trackers need more maintenance?

Yes. Motors, bearings and controllers need regular service, and Hawaii's wind and salt air add wear.

How do I know what system fits my property?

Start with a site visit. Your roof's condition, shading, your electricity use and your HECO program all shape the design. Pricing and output depend on the site.

Talk With a Local Team

Solar trackers play an important part in how large power plants generate electricity. The best system for your home or building, though, depends on your roof, your land and your goals. Our in-house crews have designed and installed solar in Hawaii for more than three decades, and we're a Tesla Premier Installer. When you're ready, request a free solar estimate or call us at (808) 842-5853.