Dual Axis Solar Tracking System

Abstract

Solar panels are devices that convert light into electricity. Solar panels use sunlight to generate power. Solar panels work best when the sun is shining. As the angle of the sun varies throughout the day and seasons, this affects the amount of electricity a solar power system will generate. To make solar power the systems work more efficiently, this project will include the design and construction of a microcontroller-based solar panel tracking system. Solar tracking allows more energy to be produced because solar array can remain aligned to the sun. In this project, we will design a dualaxis solar tracker that allows solar panels to move on two axes, aligned both north-south and eastwest. This type of system is designed to maximize solar energy collection throughout the year. This project will make use of the Light Depending Resistor (LDR) which is important to detect the sunlight by following the source of the sunlight location. Arduino Uno microcontroller is used to control the motors based on LDR. The drastic improvement in power output from the solar panel can be seen on a LCD Display attached to the system. This project discusses the development of a prototype for a dual axis solar tracking system.