Have you heard of Sun tracking solar panels?

Well, I had not heard about them, though I recently posted on the possibility. Then one of my online friends told me that there is plenty of material online on Sun tracking solar panels. We amateur radio operators are familiar with automatic azimuth/elevation tracking of directional antennas for Low Earth Orbit satellite operations like Amateur Radio on International Space Station. Some will also be familiar about Moon tracking dish antennas for Moonbounce or Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) contacts by reflecting your signal off the Moon at about 4 lakh kilometers from Earth. Similar option is there for solar panels to track the movement of the Sun. Aim is to have the solar panel perpendicular to the Sun rays throughout the day. Just as in case of antenna rotators, there are Sun trackers which can move in only one axis or more complex dual axis systems.

Sun tracking solar panels can increase the energy yield by about 40% compared to fixed systems as they continuously follow the path of Sun rays, maximizing exposure throughout the day. More energy from one panel would mean less number of panels needed for a given energy requirement, saving space. These setups can be economically viable for large commercial installations which can use more power during day time. For home users with more energy requirement at night, this may not be a good option due to the extra cost involved. Tracking systems are more susceptible to damage from harsh weather conditions like high winds or snow, leading to higher maintenance needs. More complex site preparation for extra wiring is also needed. They are more suitable for climates with less snow and may not be suitable for some terrains compared to fixed solar panels.