FROM THE ARTICLE IN IL SOLE 24 ORE
ROOFTRACKER®: more energy, less investment on the same roof.
The first solar tracking system for flat industrial roofs, designed and manufactured in Italy by Contact Italia.
+23%
Specific yield
-35,2%
Installation cost
-294.000 €
Estimated savings
ROOFTRACKER® IN THE FIELD
The system, not just the numbers
System installed
Wind tunnel testing
Powertrain detail
THE TECHNICAL REASONS
Why Rooftracker®
Increased manufacturability
East-west tracking up to 30°: up to +30% more energy than a fixed structure.
Lower investment for the same area
For the same surface area, generating the same amount of energy requires less plant and less investment.
Quick installation
Ballasted, without foundations or additional data cabling: fewer works on site, shorter times.
Reduced loads on the roof
The forces are discharged onto the structure itself, without placing dynamic loads on the roof.
Resistance to wind and turbulence
Validated with CFD simulations and wind tunnel tests on industrial roofing scenarios.
Powered by ROOFBRAIN
Made in Italy control electronics, designed and manufactured by Contact Italia.
ROYAL PLANT, 5,600 SQ M
The real comparison
Same roof, same starting point: fixed structure weighted at 5° and Rooftracker® compared to a real system, 500 W photovoltaic module.
+23%
Producibilità specifica (1.722 vs 1.400 kWh/kWp/anno)
-35,2%
Turnkey installation cost
-294.000 €
Estimated savings on the system
Daily production profile (typical day)
Installed capacity and specific yield
Comparison of costs
Cost item
Fixed 5° (ZC0536)
900 €/kWp
Rooftracker®
1100 €/kWp
%
System installation
turnkey
835.200 €
541.200 €
-35,2%
Estimated turnkey installation price based on 2026 market values for industrial rooftop photovoltaic systems.
THE MECHANISM
How does it work
The system uses a single-axis east-west tracking mechanism: the modules follow the movement of the sun during the day at an angle of up to 30°, driven by a central actuator that distributes the forces across the structure without placing a load on the roof.
ROOFBRAIN
Made in Italy control electronics, designed and manufactured by Contact Italia: it coordinates tracker movements, optimises solar tracking during the day and activates safety modes in high winds, protecting the structure and system.
FOR THOSE EVALUATING AT A TECHNICAL LEVEL
Technical specifications
Tracking accuracy
- Maximum angle ±30°
- Tracking precision 1°
- Bearing compensation up to 15°
Robustness and reliability
- Operation -30°C / +65°C
- IP66 / IP65 protection
- Hot-dip galvanised steel
- Reinforced polymer bearings
- Wind tunnel, climatic chamber and salt spray tested
Installation
- Bolted connections only
- It fits roofs with up to 4 cm of unevenness
- Prefabricated ballast, no civil works
Connectivity and control
- Wireless mesh network communication
- Proprietary software with backtracking
- Remote web interface
Security
- Automatic storage above wind/snow threshold
- Continuous self-diagnosis (CBIT system)
Certifications
- UNI EN 1090 (RINA/STS)
- Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC
- Structural certification M.D. 17/01/2018
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