Did you know? Using a dual axis solar tracking system can increase the solar panel efficiency by 20-40%.

A solar tracking system optimises the angle at which sunlight falls on the solar panels. It attempts maximum power generation by reducing loss in power production due to the sun’s movement.

Table of Contents

What is a Solar Tracking System?

For a solar system to produce the maximum power, sunlight must fall perpendicularly on the solar panels. If the angle of incidence of the sunlight is low, it will lead to poor electricity generation.

A solar tracker moves solar panels in a solar panel installation so that sunlight falls at 90° on the solar panels. It optimises the orientation of solar panels according to the sun’s movement.

How does a solar tracking system move a solar panel? We will discuss this in detail under the section, “Solar Tracking Systems According to Technology”. For now, here’s a brief answer:

You can either manually move a solar panel using a tracker, or a tracker is equipped with sensors that measure solar radiation’s intensity. It has motors that rotate solar panels as per the sensor’s information.

Alternatively, a passive solar panel tracking system has gases or fluids which expand or contract according to the heat generated by the sunlight, thereby moving the solar panels.

Here is a video you can watch to know how solar tracking system works:

Video Source: saVRee

Fixed-Tilt vs Solar Tracking Systems

Here are the major differences between fixed-tilt solar systems and solar systems with a tracking system:

1. Electricity Generation

Fixed-tilt solar systems maintain a fixed angle towards the sky. Most of the time, sunlight will not fall perpendicularly on the solar panels, leading to less than maximum electricity generation.

But a solar system with trackers will always follow the sun, leading to much greater electricity production. In particular, a dual-axis solar tracker will maximise electricity generation.

2. Installation and Maintenance Cost

A fixed-tilt solar system entails lesser installation and maintenance costs than a solar system with trackers. Maintenance costs for solar tracking systems are high as they are more vulnerable to damage because of their moving components.

However, when it comes to big, commercial solar parks, even with the higher installation and maintenance costs, a dual-axis tracker can lead to a greater return on investment, thus justifying the added expense.

3. Performance at High Latitudes

At higher latitudes, fixed-tilt solar systems perform relatively poorly as the sun’s angle of incidence is far from optimum most of the time. But a dual-axis solar tracker can easily point the panels towards the sun, thus leading to maximum electricity production.

4. Performance on Uneven Surface

Solar systems with trackers, especially dual-axis ones, will easily beat fixed-tilt solar systems when it comes to performance on uneven surfaces.

But there is a flip side as well. It is a lot more difficult, complex, and costly to install and maintain a solar tracking system on an uneven surface. You need to be very knowledgeable about the project site to decide which system is best.

Types of a Solar Tracker

A sun tracking system can be categorised based on the direction of its movement and the technology of the tracker. Here are the different types of solar energy trackers:

Solar Tracking Systems According to Axis

A solar tracking device can track the movement of the sun along one or two axes:

i) Single Axis Solar Tracker

As the name indicates, a single-axis solar tracker moves the solar panels along one axis. In most cases, the tracker will be set up to follow the sun in East-West directions.

ii) Dual Axis Solar Tracker

A dual axis solar tracking system tracks the sun’s movement in both north-south and east-west axes. It is much more efficient than a single-axis tracking system. For example, the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, India uses dual-axis solar trackers to maximise electricity generation.

Read Related Blog: Want to know about how solar panel produces electricity? You can read our blog on how solar panel work.

Solar Tracking Systems According to Technology

Solar power tracking systems can be categorised based on the technology used by trackers to rotate the solar panels:

i) Passive Solar Trackers

Passive solar trackers make use of a gas or fluid. When the sunlight falls on the solar system, the gas or the fluid expands, bringing about a mechanical rotation in solar panels. Once the radiation has stopped, the gas or the fluid contracts, and the panels return to their original position. You can use passive solar trackers in simple and small solar systems.

ii) Active Solar Trackers

Active solar trackers make use of motors driven by electricity to rotate solar panels. Electricity can come from the solar panel or an outside source. It tracks the amount of sunlight falling on the solar panels to turn them accordingly.

iii) Manual Solar Trackers

You can manually adjust a solar panel with manual solar trackers. The maintenance cost for such panels is much lower compared to passive or active solar panels. But it is impractical to use them as you have to manually adjust them throughout the day.

You can consider using them for small, low-budget solar panel installation. If you are curious about the types of solar panels you install in a solar system, you can read our blog.

Where Single Axis Tracker System is Best?

Here are the conditions in which a single axis solar tracker performs the best:

1. Lower to Moderate Latitude

Single axis solar trackers are best suited to lower to moderate latitudes (around 0° to 50°). It is because the sun’s angle of incidence varies moderately in this region, making it easy for the tracker to follow the sun and maximise productivity. If the angle varies drastically across the seasons, the single axis tracker will not be able to maintain an optimum solar panel orientation.

2. Flat Terrain

A single axis solar tracker is best suited to flat terrains. An uneven or sloped terrain can lead to inefficiency in tracking the sun’s movement and complications in the installation process. However, innovations are underway to make single-tracking systems suited to uneven surfaces as well. Here’s a video by Nextracker, one of the world’s important solar tracking companies, on NX Horizon-XTR, which tracks the sun on hilly terrains:

Video Source: Nextracker

3. Weather Free of Excessive Snow and Rain

Strong winds, excessive rain and snow can create mechanical problems in the functioning of the tracking system. Warm and dry weather without any extremes is the best situation for a tracker to function properly.

Where Dual Axis Tracking System is Best?

A dual-axis tracker is best suited to the following circumstances:

1. Higher Latitude

At higher latitudes (around 50° to 90°), the sunlight’s angle of incidence changes significantly across seasons. In such a scenario, it makes sense to install a dual axis solar tracker as it can move in north-south and east-west directions to maximise solar power production.

2. Sloped, Uneven Terrain

If you have installed your household solar panels on uneven terrain, the solar electricity generation is likely to vary significantly throughout the day due to the varying angle of sunlight’s incidence. A dual axis sun tracking system will maintain the optimum alignment of solar panels by moving along 2 axes.

3. Large Scale Installations

As a large-scale solar system requires significant investment, the energy production needs to be maximum to justify the high cost. A dual axis solar tracker maximises energy generation, thus generating a good return on investment for the high installation and maintenance cost.

What are the Pros of a Solar Tracker?

Here are the advantages of a solar tracking system:

It maximises the production of solar electricity by following the course of the sun. Properly tracking the sun ensures that sunlight falls perpendicularly on the solar panels.
You can potentially reduce the number of solar panels required to produce the desired level of energy as solar trackers maximise electricity generation.
If you have space constraints, then a solar tracker for solar panels can address the challenge by increasing the energy generated per unit area of land.
With a software application, you can easily monitor the status of solar tracking systems from your smartphone or desktop.

What are the Cons of a Solar Tracker?

There are some disadvantages to installing solar trackers as well. They are as follows:

In addition to the cost of the solar system, you will incur extra expenditure on installing a solar tracking system.
Solar systems with trackers require more maintenance than solar systems with fixed-tilt solar panels.
Solar trackers for solar panels are often heavy. If your roof is not strong enough to bear them, your only option is to go without any tracker system. Alternatively, you can go for a ground-mounted solar power installation.
Heavy snow and rain can damage the components of a solar tracker.
Because of the moving components, solar trackers are vulnerable to breaking.

Here’s our comprehensive coverage of solar panels
and their uses:

Innovative Solar Tracking Solutions

Apart from the types of solar trackers we have discussed till now, there are some novel solar tracking systems as well:

1. GPS-Based Solar Tracking Systems

These solar trackers use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track the sun’s movement and orient solar panels accordingly. With such a system, there is no need for solar trackers to evaluate the amount of radiation falling on the solar panels. It can be used in residential as well as commercial solar installations.

2. AI-Integrated Solar Tracking Systems

A tracking system equipped with Artificial Intelligence uses complex algorithms to compute the sun’s position. It uses data such as historical weather patterns and real-time information to understand the sun’s movement. It can lead to a significant return on investment over the long term.

Things to Consider before Installing Solar Tracking System

Are you curious about buying a tracking system? Here are some questions you need to answer to decide if a solar tracking system is right for you:

1. Energy Requirements

How big are your plans with your solar system? In the case of a commercial large-scale solar system, your primary intent is to earn profits from the solar electricity generated. You can spend on solar trackers to boost their productivity, thus generating even more revenue.

On the other hand, if you have a solar installation in home, the difference made by a solar tracking system may not be significant compared to the cost of installing the solar system. In most cases, a solar system can meet your household needs even without a solar tracking system.

Curious about how you can reduce your electricity bills? We have covered 20 ways to reduce your electricity bills on our blog.

2. Location

In places at high latitudes, it makes sense to install a dual-axis solar tracker to track the sun’s movement. In such places, sunlight’s angle of incidence on the solar panels varies tremendously throughout the year.

On the other hand, in places at lower latitudes, the sunlight’s angle of incidence on the solar panels varies more moderately. A tracker can maximise electricity generation by following the sun along 1 axis only.

3. Climate

Solar trackers are likely to require more maintenance in places with high snowfall, rainfall, and strong winds. It is best to use them in places which don’t see extreme weather.

4. Budget

The solar tracker cost can vary according to the type of tracker you are installing and the capacity of the solar system. You must consider additional expenditures when you opt for a solar tracker.

To learn the total cost of installing a solar system, you can check our blog on solar installation cost in India.

5. Space Availability

A solar system with trackers will take up more space than one with fixed-tilt solar panels. So if you are dealing with space constraints, it may not be viable to install a solar panel tracking system.

6. Technical Expertise and Maintenance

Solar trackers require regular maintenance. You will need professionals with technical expertise to regularly inspect your trackers and this will lead to extra expenditure.

How to Maintain a Solar Tracking System?

Here are some steps you can take to maintain your solar tracking system:

1. Regular Inspection

As the solar tracking system of several moving components, it is at a greater risk of suffering damage. It is important to regularly inspect it for signs of weather-related damages. You can check a manufacturer’s recommendation and schedule maintenance visits by a professional.

2. Check the Alignment

From time to time, you should check the alignment of the solar panels and see if they are facing the sun perpendicularly. If there is a mismatch in the alignment, your tracking system must be malfunctioning.

3. Lubrication and Component Replacement

It is important to lubricate critical components of a solar tracker such as bearings and motors regularly. If required, you can also replace them.

4. Keep Sensors Clean

Dust and bird droppings can block sensors from assessing the amount of sunlight which is incident. Make sure they are clean so that they can accurately track sunlight.

To sum up, a solar tracking system can increase power generation as it orients the solar panel according to the sun’s position. Adding this facility is especially sensible for commercial solar systems. Your geographical location, the types of solar panels you have installed, and the terrain on which you have installed your solar system determine whether the solar tracker system is worth the investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a solar tracker work?

A solar tracker tracks the sun’s movement and ensures that sunlight falls perpendicularly on solar panels. It maximises the electricity output of a solar system.

Which solar tracker is best?

You have to consider your location and the nature of the terrain on which the solar system is installed to decide which solar power tracking system is best for you.

In which direction a solar tracker moves?

A solar tracking device can move in 1 or 2 axes. If it moves along 1 axis it is called a single axis solar tracker and if it moves along both axes it is called a dual axis solar tracker.

How does a solar tracker move?

It depends on the technology of a solar tracker. Active solar trackers use sensors to judge the movement of the sun, while passive solar trackers use the expansion of fluids and gases to move solar panels.

Where is a passive solar tracker more suitable?

A passive solar tracking system is suited to places at a low latitude which don’t see extreme temperatures.

In which conditions is it best to use active solar tracking systems?

Active solar tracking systems are suited to large-scale solar installations, places with limited area, and solar systems installed on uneven surfaces.

Solar Tracking System: Functioning, Types, Advantages, Features