Optical Performance of Horizontal Single-Axis Tracked Solar Panels

Abstract

To investigate the optical performance of horizontal single-axis tracked solar panels, a mathematical procedure to estimate daily collectible radiation on fixed, 2-axis and horizontal single-axis tracked solar panels was developed based the solar geometry and monthly horizontal radiation. Results showed that the annual solar gain on a horizontal single-axis tracked solar panel was related to the orientation of the horizontal tracking axis, tracking the sun about the east-west axis was worst to boost the energy collection of tracked panels, and tracking the sun about the south-north axis was best. Results also indicated that the ratio on south-north single-axis tracked solar panels to that with full 2- axis sun-tracking decreased with the increase in site latitude, implying that the horizontal south-north axis suntracking was suitable to be employed in the region with lower geographical latitude.