Study and design of solar tracker

Abstract

Solar energy is a plentiful resource that can be effectively utilized through the use of solar photovoltaic cells and the photovoltaic effect to convert sunlight into electricity. However, the efficiency of a standard PV cell is relatively low due to its dependency on light intensity, resulting in decreased absorption efficiency at certain times of the day and year when the sun's position changes. Solar photovoltaic cells are most productive when positioned perpendicularly to the sun's rays. To enhance energy generation and efficiency, solar trackers are employed. This study introduces a cost-effective dual-axis solar tracking system designed to track the sun's movements in order to maximize power output from solar panels as they follow the sun. Light Dependent Resistors are utilized to detect the sun's position, which is then transmitted to an Arduino Uno microcontroller. This microcontroller commands a pair of stepper motors to adjust the orientation of the solar panel to remain perpendicular to the sun's rays.