September 2026Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
The capital investment required to develop a solar power plant is substantial, making efficient, reliable and precise performance essential. Sun trackers play a key role by keeping solar panels aligned with the sun throughout the day, enabling more sunlight to reach the panels directly, and delivering more optimised use of irradiance over the course of the day.
Senseca has introduced its SEMS-2000 solar energy measurement system for automatic monitoring of direct normal irradiance/DNI, global horizontal irradiance/GHI, and diffuse horizontal irradiance/DHI. The SEMS-2000 is based on the SunTracker-2000, a compact 2-axis solar tracker designed for accurate and reliable solar radiation measurement in unattended outdoor installations.
“The SEMS-2000 SunTracker has been developed on an astronomical elevation-azimuth tracking algorithm, enabling it to continuously align mounted sensors with the sun to support high-quality measurement of DNI, DHI and GHI. While easy to operate, it is designed for long-term performance at remote sites,” says Jan Grobler, managing director of Senseca South Africa.
“High tracking accuracy and low power consumption make the system suitable for autonomous and remote installations, even in demanding environments with wide temperature ranges, high humidity and strong wind exposure. It offers precise sun tracking with a pointing accuracy of ±0,10° on both axes, improved to better than ±0,010° with an optional active sun sensor,” says Grobler.
The SEMS-2000 is a complete solar radiation measurement system supporting measurement of DNI, DHI and GHI using pyrheliometers, pyranometers and optional shadow disk assemblies mounted on the tracker structure. It consists of the SunTracker-2000 mechanical structure with an MTD3K control unit data acquisition system which manages sun position calculation, power supply, pointing status and communications.
With its robust, compact design and remote operation optimisation, it delivers reliable and precise unattended performance requiring minimal maintenance and site inspections. Smart operating functions include night standby, reduced holding torque and power management, supporting autonomous operation.
“An optional ADAS-3000 checks solar radiation data coherence and warns users when maintenance is required, giving plant management improved efficiencies through better use of installed PV capacity,” says Grobler. “The Senseca SEMS-2000 enables a solar power plant to use available sunlight more productively, which in turn, leads to increased energy production and improved plant efficiencies. It is a highly accurate sun tracking instrument delivering pinpoint precision and reliability.”
Why mining operations need local lightning early warning Senseca
Editor's Choice Electrical Power & Protection
Lightning can develop into a serious mining hazard before the first local strike, leaving crews little time to stop work and reach safety. Local early-warning technology can provide valuable lead time, allowing mines to connect developing storm conditions to defined trigger actions that protect people, explosives and equipment.
Read more...Why measurement matters in smelting Endress+Hauser South Africa
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
South African smelters returning to operation after energy constraints face new demands for tighter control, better visibility and environmental compliance. Endress+Hauser explains how modern measurement technology supports safer, more efficient furnace operation and local beneficiation.
Read more...AMETEK expands 993X gas analyser series with explosion-proof enclosures
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
AMETEK Process Instruments has added ATEX and IECEx Zone 1-certified explosion-proof enclosures to its 993X series of gas analysers, enabling reliable installation in Zone 1 hazardous locations where purge gas is unavailable.
Read more...Why medical device leak testing matters for South Africa's MedTech future ATEQ South Africa
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
As South Africa works to grow local medical technology manufacturing, non-destructive leak and flow testing is becoming a strategic quality assurance tool, helping manufacturers verify device integrity, meet regulatory requirements and improve production efficiency.
Read more...Moving forward with reverse osmosis
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Rising water costs and pressure on infrastructure are changing the way industries view reverse osmosis. G-Chem Aquacare is developing tailored, containerised solutions that make the technology more accessible for South African industry.
Read more...Meteorological data logger with up to 32 analogue sensors Senseca
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Senseca has introduced its advanced data acquisition system for environmental monitoring, which has a universal data logger for up to 32 analogue, pulse and smart digital sensors.
Read more...Importance of gas analysis in the petrochemical industry Elemental Analytics
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Gas analysis plays a critical role in petrochemical operations, supporting process optimisation, product quality and plant safety. As an experienced and expert gas analysis supplier, Elemental Analytics can provide the correct analyser and sample system package to meet individual plant requirements.
Read more...Fully integrated standalone thunderstorm warning system Senseca
Sensors & Transducers Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Senseca South Africa has introduced its BTD-1 fully integrated, standalone thunderstorm warning system, which detects lightning by monitoring the background quasi-electrostatic field. The system can generate alerts before the first lightning strike, with a detection raterange of up to 83 km.
Read more...Environmental monitoring with testo Saveris 1
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
The testo Saveris 1 environmental monitoring system has been in continuous use since 2010 at Jungbunzlauer, a biotechnology company in Germany, providing seamless temperature and humidity data for audit-ready, GxP-compliant processes across laboratories, warehouses and production areas.
Read more...Reliability restored through systemic vibration analysis Wearcheck
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Condition monitoring specialist, WearCheck uses a variety of testing techniques to enhance reliability in machinery components and prevent failures.
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