FTC Solar's SUNPATH software validated to boost solar energy production
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 01, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- FTC Solar, a leading provider of solar tracker systems, software, and engineering services, has announced the successful completion of an independent technical validation of its SUNPATH® tracker optimization software by Enertis Applus+, an independent engineering and consulting firm serving the renewable energy industry. The validation, conducted across multiple utility-scale solar projects in the United States, demonstrated that the SUNPATH algorithm significantly enhances energy production, providing robust and predictable gains.
The study compared energy gains from operating sites against those calculated using FTC Solar’s SUNPATH modeling tool. For three selected sites, modeled and measured gains were within 0.5 percentage points of each other, with measured energy gains reaching up to 2.65% and modeled gains up to 3.15% over the evaluation periods. This independent validation not only affirms the accuracy and consistency of SUNPATH but also aligns with industry standards required for the underwriting of production gains.
“Software plays an increasing role in maximizing solar project energy output, but it’s crucial that these gains are both predictable and credible for customers and project stakeholders,” said Anthony Carroll, President and CEO of FTC Solar. “This independent validation provides customers with greater confidence that the additional production estimated by SUNPATH will translate into measurable performance on the ground. It also strengthens the basis for these gains to be considered in project production assumptions.”
SUNPATH employs two optimization strategies: Terrain-Based Backtracking and Diffuse Optimization. Terrain-Based Backtracking adjusts and optimizes tracker angles based on site-specific elevation data and tracker geometry, reducing row-to-row shading. Diffuse Optimization optimizes tracker positioning during diffuse-dominated weather conditions to improve irradiance capture and increase energy production. The software uses weather forecasts and site-specific information to achieve these optimizations without the need for additional sensors or a learning period.
The validation process also included field observations of SUNPATH operating behavior. These observations confirmed that tracker rows across varying east-west slopes operated at different tilt angles, consistent with SUNPATH’s terrain-based backtracking strategy to minimize inter-row shading.
“Iñaki Herrero, Enertis Applus+ Managing Director for North America, emphasized the importance of independent validation in the solar industry, stating, ‘As the solar industry relies more on advanced modeling tools, independent validation is essential to ensure the technical accuracy and reliability of these tools.’”
These findings provide third-party validation of FTC Solar’s approach to using software and tracker-level controls to increase energy production, while also offering developers, independent engineers, and financing partners greater confidence in estimating production gains before commercial operation.
“FTC Solar’s SUNPATH software represents a significant advancement in the field of solar optimization,” said Herrero. “The validation underscores the software’s ability to deliver consistent and reliable energy gains, which is crucial for the success of solar projects.”