Design and Implementation of an Automatic Single Axis Solar Tracking System to Enhance the Performance of a Solar Photovoltaic Panel

Abstract

The power consumption rate is increasing daily, and people are greatly dependent on conventional energy sources. If it continues, the conventional energy sources will end very soon. So, it is the appropriate time to use renewable energy sources along with conventional energy sources. Solar energy is the cleanest and sustainable renewable energy source. By using a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel, solar power can be converted into electricity. The electricity production rate from a solar photovoltaic panel depends on some factors such as solar irradiance, solar cell materials, solar cell surface temperature, etc. When the solar cell captures more sunlight, the more power it produces. A fixed state solar panel can’t capture maximum sunlight during the sunlight hour because the sun’s position in the sky changes all day long. An automatic sunlight tracking system is required to ensure that the panel captures maximum solar irradiance. This research aims to design and implement a microcontroller-based automated single-axis solar tracking system to capture maximum sunlight and to extract maximum power from the solar PV panel in various sun positions. This system helps to face the solar panel towards the sunlight according to the sun’s movement in the sky. By using the tracking system, the panel can absorb a higher amount of solar power and increase the solar panel’s output power.