Solar Tracking Systems for Photovoltaic Energy Optimization

Solar tracking systems enhance the performance of photovoltaic installations by continuously orienting panels to follow the sun’s apparent motion, thereby maximising incident irradiance throughout the day and across seasons. By employing single-axis or dual-axis mechanisms, these platforms adjust tilt and azimuth angles to align modules with the sun’s position, reducing cosine losses and improving annual energy yield by up to 25 % compared with fixed-tilt arrays. Advances in sensor technologies, control architectures and mechanical design have addressed challenges in soiling reduction, snow shedding and resilience under extreme weather, while bifacial modules have further leveraged ground-reflected light to boost output. Both open-loop (algorithmic) and closed-loop (sensor-driven) control strategies are widely used, balancing cost, complexity and accuracy. Recent work integrates low-cost actuators, light-dependent resistors and microcontroller-based algorithms to create scalable, hybrid solutions that can be deployed across diverse climates and latitudes. Such systems play a pivotal role in decarbonisation, lowering levelised costs of electricity and enabling more efficient land use in utility-scale and distributed solar farms.

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Solar Tracking Systems for Photovoltaic Energy Optimization publication trend

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Technical terms

Dual-axis tracker: A system that adjusts photovoltaic modules around two perpendicular axes to follow both the sun’s azimuth and elevation.

Single-axis tracker: A mechanism that rotates panels about one axis—usually horizontal or vertical—to follow the sun’s daily path.

Azimuth angle: The compass bearing of the sun’s projection onto the horizontal plane, measured from true north or south.

Elevation angle: The vertical angle between the sun’s rays and the horizontal plane, determining panel tilt.

Bifacial PV module: A photovoltaic panel designed to capture solar irradiance on both front and rear surfaces, utilising reflected albedo.

Soiling: The accumulation of dust, snow or debris on the panel surface, which diminishes transmittance and output.

Closed-loop control: A tracking strategy that constantly adjusts orientation based on real-time sensor feedback.

Proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller: A feedback algorithm that minimises error by combining proportional, integral and derivative terms to refine actuator response.

Light-dependent resistor (LDR): A sensor whose resistance varies with incident light intensity, used in optical feedback systems for sun-tracking.

References

1. The future of PV tracking? An interdisciplinary performance assessment of a novel design with panel protection. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2025).
2. Solar Photovoltaic Tracking Systems for Electricity Generation: A Review. Energies (2020).
3. Optimized Single-Axis Schedule Solar Tracker in Different Weather Conditions. Energies (2020).
4. Experimental Investigation of Azimuth- and Sensor-Based Control Strategies for a PV Solar Tracking Application. Applied Sciences (2022).