Rute Foundation Systems, Incorported — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.6

Description

RUTE SUNTRACKER (RST) is a new hardware solution that supports PV solar above cattlepasture. RST is a cable-stayed pole-mounted high-clearance solar tracker system. High-clearancesolar saves rangeland saves water and increases farm income especially important for smallranches where income has decreased below sustainable levels due to climate stress. RST addressesUSDA Strategic Goal 1: Combat Climate change to support America's working lands naturalresources and communities.The problem RUTE is addressing is the pressure to convert rangeland to solar and its effect on therural communities. Solar rents are well in excess of profits achieved through ranching yet ranchesare reluctant to change their way of life and negatively affect their communities by converting tosolar. RUTE's solution will allow ranching activities to co-exist with solar.The test array created under this SBIR will consist of 9 pole-mounted 20'x20' racks ( suitable forholding solar panels) 12 cable anchorages (pitch poles) diagonal cables to stay the poles 3 sets ofrotator cables running N/S and related winches mounted in the pitch poles.The test array will beused to evaluate the key components of the structure for strength and reliability. These tests willinclude1. Load tests in windy conditions to test cable requirements2. Load tests to test anchorages and materials with respect to cattle interactions.3. Winch test to determine accuracy and strength in calm and windy conditions4. Controls (SCADA) testing to confirm reliable and repeatable methods to position the solarpanels to track the sun.