Stepper Motor Driven Solar Tracker System for Solar Panel

Abstract

Solar power plant is one of energy converters that are essential to sustain human life in the future where fossil fuel supplies will be depleting. It is also very useful for areas where electricity supply is not available. Generally, solar panels are fitted on a structure with a static direction. The generated electric energy will be optimal if the direction of the panel can follow the movement of the direction of incoming solar rays. This research is aimed to study the use of a solar tracker and driver system of a solar panel on its technical and economic aspects of. The system consists of LDR sensors, two stepper motors, and a microcontroller. The experimental results showed an error of 1.30° at the east-west direction and of 0.85° at the north-south direction. A life cycle cost analysis shows that the use of the solar tracker system will be economical for solar panels with a capacity of 200 or more Wp.