A common misconception in solar tracker procurement is that a tracker certified for one market automatically meets the requirements of another.
Local regional standards govern market access for solar tracking systems across different regions. Failure to account for any of these criteria may lead to operational disruptions and additional financial costs.
This article examines how solar tracker standards and market access rules diverge across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, and provides a practical procurement framework for multi-region buyers.
Solar Tracker Procurement: Standards Set the Baseline, Markets Set the Rules
Three Critical Gatekeepers and the Risk of Misalignment
Solar trackers entering a new target market generally face three primary regulatory and market filters：
- Product Certification: formal evidence that the tracker meets internationally recognized design and performance benchmarks.
- Compliance with Local Structural Standards: demonstrating that the tracker’s mechanical design withstands the specific wind, snow, seismic, and terrain loads defined by local building regulations.
- Localization: Fulfillment of domestic content requirements, regional manufacturing mandates, or specific grid operator guidelines, which often vary significantly by jurisdiction.
A tracker configuration evaluated as compliant in one region may not automatically satisfy requirements in another. Compliance requirements vary by jurisdiction. Failure to address these differences may result in customs clearance delays, interconnection approval delays, or financing constraints.
IEC 62817 as the Global Design Qualification Baseline: Scope and Limitations
IEC 62817 serves as a key international design qualification standard for solar trackers within photovoltaic systems. It establishes standardized test procedures for both primary components and full tracker systems, providing consistent definitions for functionality, tracking accuracy, and performance parameters.
It should be noted that a structural scope limitation inherent to IEC 62817: Structural compliance remains subject to local building codes, soil characteristics, and regional environmental factors. It does not inherently guarantee compliance with specific regional load conditions, such as extreme wind events or high seismic requirements.
Navigating Adjacent Frameworks: UL 3703, Product Certification, and Structural Codes
In North America, solar tracker procurement commonly references UL 3703, a standard involving detailed evaluation of the tracking platform and incorporating UL 2703 for electrical grounding, bonding, and structural support considerations. Although IEC 62817 and UL 3703 represent two primary product certification frameworks globally, both remain functionally distinct from regional structural codes, such as ASCE 7 in the United States, Eurocodes in Europe, or NCh2369 in Chile.
It is important to distinguish product certification from structural code compliance. Holding an IEC 62817 or UL 3703 certification does not automatically ensure that a tracking system satisfies local structural code criteria unless the engineering is explicitly tailored to site-specific load cases.
Solar Tracker Standards in Europe: Engineering for Codes and Economics
Eurocode Wind/Snow Load Zoning and National Annexes as a Critical Design Consideration
The Eurocode framework defines Europe’s regulatory landscape for solar trackers. Wind loads are governed by EN 1991-1-4, snow loads by EN 1991-1-3, and steel structures by EN 1993-1-1.
A key consideration is the national annex—each EU member state publishes its own annex to the Eurocodes, adjusting wind zones, snow zones, and safety factors to reflect local climatic and geological conditions.
A tracker designed for Germany’s moderate wind zones may require significant reinforcement for Spain’s coastal regions or the alpine snow loads of Austria. Furthermore, CE marking is a mandatory requirement for solar tracking controllers and electrical components entering the EU market. For trackers with wireless communication capabilities, CE-RED certification under Directive 2014/53/EU is also required.
Market Demand: High-Diffuse Iberian Climates and Bifacial + Tracker as Default
In Europe’s largest solar markets—Spain and Portugal—high-diffuse irradiance conditions have made bifacial modules combined with single-axis trackers the default utility configuration.
Project developers in the Iberian Peninsula prioritize trackers that maximize bifacial gain through optimized rear-side clearance and reduced shading. The tracker must not only meet Eurocode structural requirements but also deliver the energy yield performance that underpins project financial models.
Solar Tracker Standards in Southeast Asia： Climate-Driven Design Requirements
Typhoon-Zone Wind Design and Stow Strategy Scrutiny
Southeast Asia is characterized by some of the highest wind-load design requirements globally for solar trackers. In regions vulnerable to super typhoons—particularly the Philippines’ Luzon region and Vietnam’s coastal corridor—local building codes can require design wind speeds of 250 to 280 km/h. Tropical cyclones bring not only extreme peak gusts but also sustained high winds that test tracker durability over hours, not seconds.
For procurement teams in this region, stow strategy is under intense scrutiny. Industry best practices have shifted from stowing at a flat 0° angle to angles closer to 45° to reduce wind pressure. Multi-point drive technology has also emerged as a reliable solution for improving 1P tracker stability in coastal typhoon zones, as it distributes driving force at multiple positions along the tracker length for more uniform load distribution.
Soft Soils, Aquaculture Sites, and Foundation Flexibility
In addition to wind loading, Southeast Asia’s project sites often present challenging ground conditions—soft soils, flood-prone areas, and aquaculture ponds.
- Foundation flexibility is a critical design consideration for these environments. Trackers must accommodate diverse foundation types including ramming, pre-drilling, concrete piles, and prestressed high-strength concrete (PHC) piles. The ability to reduce pile counts through longer spans directly impacts project viability in these environments.
- In-region manufacturing is also increasingly prioritized. Antaisolar has established supply bases in Indonesia to serve the Southeast Asian market, reducing logistics costs and enabling faster project execution.
Solar Tracker Standards in Latin America： Certification and Financing Rules
Brazil: INMETRO Regime and BNDES Local-Content Financing Rules
Brazil’s market access requirements are among the most stringent in the world. The INMETRO (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) certification regime requires solar equipment to meet Ordinance 140/2022 technical quality and conformity assessment requirements. Products must comply with Brazilian standards such as ABNT NBR 16149 for inverters, and safety testing is conducted according to IEC 61215 and IEC 61730.
Beyond certification, BNDES (Brazilian Development Bank) financing rules impose local-content requirements through the FINAME certification. To qualify, at least 50% of product components must be locally produced, and local labor must be utilized. FINAME certification is essential for securing favorable financing terms and is a prerequisite for many large-scale utility projects in Brazil.
Chile: Seismic Design Layered on Wind Loads
Chile combines extreme wind loads with some of the world’s most demanding seismic requirements. The country’s NCh2369 seismic design standard, developed following the 2010 Maule earthquake, is one of the most rigorous industrial seismic codes globally. Solar trackers in Chile must satisfy seismic design requirements that address north-south oriented loads and prevent seismic amplification on equipment.
Mexico: CFE Grid Framework and Tender Dynamics
In Mexico, the state utility CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad) sets interconnection requirements and maintains a minimum 54% share of power injected into the grid. New renewable projects must align with government-set planning criteria. For procurement teams, CFE grid framework compliance is a prerequisite for project interconnection and tendering participation, and tender dynamics increasingly favor suppliers with established local presence and proven grid interconnection capability.
A Procurement Framework for Multi-Region Buyers
Four-Item Checklist
For EPC contractors and developers sourcing trackers across multiple regions, we recommend a four-item procurement checklist:
1. Certification Portfolio — Does the supplier hold IEC 62817 for design qualification? Do they have UL 3703 where required? Are relevant CE certifications in place for European markets?
2. Load-Case Engineering — Can the supplier demonstrate structural analysis for the specific wind, snow, and seismic zones of the project location? Do they have third-party validation?
3. Local Delivery Footprint — Does the supplier have in-region manufacturing, service centers, and local technical support? Can they meet domestic content requirements?
4. Bankability — Do lenders and insurers recognize the supplier’s certifications? Have their trackers been deployed in similar projects at scale?
Case in Point — Antaisolar’s Multi-Region Model
Antaisolar’s portfolio addresses these regional demands through targeted engineering and global infrastructure.
The core “TAI” series passed TÜV NORD’s comprehensive testing in a single assessment cycle, securing IEC 62817 certification initially. Antaisolar’s latest tracker platform, the AT-Spark, has also obtained IEC 62817 certification. Beyond that baseline, each model is configured for specific regional load cases and certification regimes:
- AT-Spark (1P flagship) features a proprietary octagonal torque tube that increases structural stiffness by 40% and specific strength by 50%, while reducing material costs by 30%. With a maximum length of 143 m, it reduces pile quantity by 20%. Wind-load rating reaches 70 m/s under ASCE 7-10—suitable for typhoon-prone applications.
- TAI-Simple (1P) supports up to 90 modules per tracker, with a multi-damping system withstanding gusts of up to 55 m/s. Its 120° tracking range and 20% N-S slope tolerance make it adaptable to varied terrain.
- TAI-Universal (2P) has been upgraded with reinforced main structures supporting spans up to 80 m and wind resistance of 60 m/s, improving torque distribution and reducing pile counts. It accommodates up to 120 modules at 1,500 V DC.
Antaisolar maintains in-region supply bases in Indonesia (Southeast Asia), Spain (Europe), and Brazil (Latin America), alongside manufacturing in China. Flagship projects include 175 MW in Spain, 600 MW in Uzbekistan, and multiple utility-scale deployments across Southeast Asia.
With cumulative global shipments reaching 50.1 GW across 21 countries as of late 2025 and a ranking among the world’s top 9 solar tracker companies, Antaisolar demonstrates the scale and certification depth required for multi-region procurement.
For project-specific compliance assessments and engineering support across multiple regions, procurement teams may contact Antaisolar’s technical sales team.
FAQ
What is the difference between IEC and UL solar tracker certifications?
IEC 62817 is the international design qualification standard applicable to solar trackers for photovoltaic systems. It defines test procedures for key components and the complete tracker system.
UL 3703 is the North American standard involving rigorous inspection of the tracking platform and electrical requirements. UL 3703 is specifically required for market access in the United States and Canada. Many global suppliers pursue both certifications to serve multiple regions.
Antaisolar has obtained IEC 62817 certification for design qualification and provides engineering solutions aligned with UL requirements for projects in North America, supporting compliance with the certification requirements of different markets.
Can one certification cover multiple countries?
Not typically. Each country—and in some cases each region within a country—has specific wind, snow, seismic, and soil requirements defined by local regulations. CE marking covers the EU, INMETRO covers Brazil, and each Latin American country has its own solar tracker certification and financing regimes. One certification does not equal universal market access—procurement teams must verify region-by-region compliance.
Antaisolar’s regional engineering approach is designed to support compliance with these varying requirements. AT-Spark, TAI-Simple, and TAI-Universal are engineered to the specific load cases of target regions, backed by in-region supply bases and third-party certifications that satisfy local financing and grid requirements.
