World's first vertical solar tracker for any region beyond 30° unveiled

Vaja AB, a Stockholm-based company, has unveiled the world’s first vertical solar tracker, called VajaTrack, designed to optimize solar energy production for regions beyond 30° latitude, including much of Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Unlike conventional horizontal trackers that tilt panels to follow the sun and perform best near the equator, vertical trackers are better suited for higher latitudes where the sun remains low on the horizon. However, previous vertical tracker designs were economically unviable due to the high costs of reinforcing structures against wind loads. VajaTrack addresses this challenge with a wind-responsive design that reduces structural wind loads by over 80%, significantly lowering capital and maintenance costs. The system uses Passive Feathering Mechanics to minimize wind resistance and a centralized drive system that powers multiple units with a single motor. This design not only enhances durability and affordability but also includes shade-avoidance optimization to maximize energy yield without self-shading issues. By continuously rotating panels to face the low-angled