Enhancing the efficiency of a solar panel using a developed prototype Smart Photovoltaic Module Single-axis Solar Tracker

Abstract

There is a global compelling need to adopt a clean renewable energy in order to reduce carbon emissions driving climate change. Photovoltaic cells (PV) provide a solution, however they will be more economically viable if their efficiency are improved and their total cost optimized. Enhancing the performance efficiency of solar modules to overcome the limitations of geographical locations and climatic conditions in achieving full sun has led to the development of solar trackers. These solar trackers need to be energy efficient, low cost, easy to install, reliable in tracking the sun to be attractive. This paper discusses the development of an efficient, low cost, prototype single-axis solar tracker. The energy consumption of the developed solar tracker is minimized through the implemented components circuitry. Light dependent resistors are deployed as navigation sensors to control the horizontal movement of the PV solar panel. Trajectory calculations aided the solar tracker axis control. The obtained validation results show an average enhanced photovoltaic cell efficiency of 20.2% compared to a stationary photovoltaic panel of the same configurations. The commercialization of the developed prototype solar tracker will make the device available and affordable to users of solar modules especially in low income countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.