High efficiency gear box and holding system for solar trackers

A solar tracker comprising:

• a plurality of piers, one end of the piers configured for installation in the earth;
• a plurality of bearings, each bearing supported by a pier;
• a torque tube received in the plurality of bearings and configured to support a plurality of solar modules;
• a plurality of drive motors, each drive motor associated with a pier;
• a plurality of high efficiency gear boxes, each high efficiency gear box associated with one of the plurality of drive motors, each high efficiency gear box comprising a driven gear and a drive gear, the driven gear mounted at the torque tube, the drive gear engaged between the driven gear and an output shaft of the one of the plurality of drive motors;
• and
• a plurality of brakes, each brake associated with one of the plurality of high efficiency gear boxes and one of the plurality of drive motors, wherein in combination the plurality of brakes apply sufficient braking force to prevent back driving of the torque tube.