Solar photovoltaic panel tracking

Do solar tracking systems improve the efficiency of photovoltaic modules?

Solar tracking systems (TS) improve the efficiency of photovoltaic modules by dynamically adjusting their orientation to follow the path of the sun. The target of this paper is, therefore, to give an extensive review of the technical and economic aspects of the solar TS, covering the design aspects, difficulties, and prospects.

What is a Solar Energy Tracker?

It is an advanced sun monitoring system that can rotate the panels to track the movement of the sun across the sky. It facilitates the panel system to trap the maximum sunlight and optimise the energy output. There are considerable advantages to using a solar energy tracker.

How do solar tracking systems compare?

Consequently, the main metrics available in the literature for the comparison of solar tracking systems relate to aspects such as annual energy gain, which can be evaluated in terms of the power output ratio, local latitude, and solar radiation , .

How efficient is a solar tracker compared to a fixed photovoltaic system?

According to research, the efficiency of such solar trackers ranges from 27.85 % to 43.6 % compared to a fixed photovoltaic system, and the solar tracking accuracy reaches from 0.11° to 1.5°. Controllers and electrical drives include Arduino, Atmega, dSpace, as well as DC motors, stepper motors and servo motors, respectively.

Are solar trackers based on a photovoltaic module?

Research carried out in , , , , , , describes the development of single-axis and dual-axis solar trackers with east–west, azimuth-altitude and north–south rotation mechanisms based on the use of photovoltaic modules as an optical sensor.

How efficient are solar trackers compared to stationary PV systems?

The efficiency of such solar trackers compared to stationary PV systems is estimated in the range from 12 % to 37.63 %. PLC and Arduino are used as controllers in these studies, and DC motors, stepper motors, servomotors and linear actuators are used as rotation drives. Despite the effectiveness of this method, it has some disadvantages.