NEXTracker, a subsidiary of Flextronics International, has commenced supply of its single-axis solar trackers to a 750MW solar power plant in Mexico.

The grid-connected project will serve the Northern Mexico region through a long-term power purchasing contract.

Touted to be the largest solar power plant in the Western Hemisphere, the 750MW solar project is slated to begin commercial operation by mid-2018.

Scope of NEXTracker’s contract includes manufacturing of a range of mechanical, structural and electrical parts locally for the Mexican solar project.

NEXTracker has dispatched more than 200MW to the solar project location to date.

The project is said to feature the new, internally developed SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system of NEXTracker built on the cyber-secure connected intelligence platform of its parent Flextronics.

SCADA will provide control and data collection and management capabilities, thereby improving operational control and analysis of the company’s components.

The solar project is expected to generate around 1,700GWh of energy per annum. This is equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions of over 780,000 tons every year.

It will spread across a land area of more than eight square miles. The solar energy generated from it is likely to meet the power requirements of nearly 1.3 million Mexican homes.

NEXTracker CEO Dan Shugar said: “Mexico, along with India, Australia and the Middle East is part of a new wave of renewable energy markets poised for significant growth over the next few years.

“Much of that growth will be supported by single-axis solar tracking technology. NEXTracker’s proven experience, and advanced software and tracker technology, help solar power plants operate more effectively with greater energy gains.

“With our local manufacturing program, local engineering design expertise and an office in Mexico City, this project has our full support.” 

The name of the project or its developer has been kept undisclosed by NEXTracker.

Image: NEXTracker supplies single-axis solar trackers to 750MW Mexican solar plant. Photo: courtesy of NEXTracker, Inc.