Mechatronic Design of a Two Axis Solar Tracker System for Improved Efficiency

This paper presents a novel solar tracking system that employs mechatronics and photovoltaic engineering to enhance the efficiency of solar power systems. Sun trackers play a vital role in optimizing the real photovoltaic production in the field. However, several challenges need to be addressed during the different phases of the photovoltaic project life cycle, such as field arrangement, local content, labor skills, weather circumstances, budgetary limits, and short delivery terms. The proposed solar tracker includes sensors, a microcontroller, and a combination of Direct Current (DC) motor and Stepper motors to align the solar panel with the sun's position and maintain the angle of incidence of incoming sunlight. Other complimentary systems are also installed like constant output monitoring and automatic cleaning system. The complete working model of the solar tracking system is presented, and its efficiency is compared to traditional solar systems. The results demonstrate that the proposed solar tracking system outperforms traditional solar systems by 20.9%, thereby enhancing the efficiency of solar power generation. The proposed system offers a promising solution to improve the performance of solar power systems and reduce their impact on the environment.