IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v82y2018ip3p2548-2569.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Advances in solar photovoltaic tracking systems: A review

Author

Listed:
  • AL-Rousan, Nadia
  • Isa, Nor Ashidi Mat
  • Desa, Mohd Khairunaz Mat

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic technology is one of the most important resources of renewable energy. However, the current solar photovoltaic systems have significant drawbacks, such as high costs compared to fossil fuel energy resources, low efficiency, and intermittency. Capturing maximum energy from the sun by using photovoltaic systems is challenging. Several factors that affect the energy output of such systems include the photovoltaic material, geographical location of solar irradiances, ambient temperature and weather, angle of sun incidence, and orientation of the panel. This study reviews the principles and mechanisms of photovoltaic tracking systems to determine the best panel orientation. The tracking techniques, efficiency, performance, advantages, and disadvantages of simple tracking systems are compared with those of state-of-the-art tracking systems. Diverse types of solar tracking systems based on their technologies and driving methods will be presented and categorized.The future trends of tracking systems are also highlighted.

Suggested Citation

  • AL-Rousan, Nadia & Isa, Nor Ashidi Mat & Desa, Mohd Khairunaz Mat, 2018. "Advances in solar photovoltaic tracking systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2548-2569.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:82:y:2018:i:p3:p:2548-2569
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.077
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117313266
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.077?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Suganthi, L. & Iniyan, S. & Samuel, Anand A., 2015. "Applications of fuzzy logic in renewable energy systems – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 585-607.
    2. repec:bla:ausecr:v:39:y:2006:i:2:p:190-195 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Seme, Sebastijan & Srpčič, Gregor & Kavšek, Domen & Božičnik, Stane & Letnik, Tomislav & Praunseis, Zdravko & Štumberger, Bojan & Hadžiselimović, Miralem, 2017. "Dual-axis photovoltaic tracking system – Design and experimental investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1267-1274.
    4. Almonacid, Florencia & Fernandez, Eduardo F. & Mellit, Adel & Kalogirou, Soteris, 2017. "Review of techniques based on artificial neural networks for the electrical characterization of concentrator photovoltaic technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 938-953.
    5. Shafie, S.M. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H. & Andriyana, A., 2011. "Current energy usage and sustainable energy in Malaysia: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4370-4377.
    6. Senkal, Ozan & Kuleli, Tuncay, 2009. "Estimation of solar radiation over Turkey using artificial neural network and satellite data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(7-8), pages 1222-1228, July.
    7. Bou-Rabee, Mohammed & Sulaiman, Shaharin A. & Saleh, Magdy Saad & Marafi, Suhaila, 2017. "Using artificial neural networks to estimate solar radiation in Kuwait," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 434-438.
    8. Rehman, Shafiqur & Mohandes, Mohamed, 2008. "Artificial neural network estimation of global solar radiation using air temperature and relative humidity," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 571-576, February.
    9. Unknown, 2016. "Energy for Sustainable Development," Conference Proceedings 253270, Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies (IDSAsr).
    10. Fatih Birol, 2006. "World energy prospects and challenges," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 7(02), pages 3-7, July.
    11. Altas, I.H. & Sharaf, A.M., 2008. "A novel maximum power fuzzy logic controller for photovoltaic solar energy systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 388-399.
    12. Borhanazad, H. & Mekhilef, S. & Saidur, R. & Boroumandjazi, G., 2013. "Potential application of renewable energy for rural electrification in Malaysia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 210-219.
    13. Ranganathan, Raghuram & Mikhael, Wasfy & Kutkut, Nasser & Batarseh, Issa, 2011. "Adaptive sun tracking algorithm for incident energy maximization and efficiency improvement of PV panels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 2623-2626.
    14. Mousazadeh, Hossein & Keyhani, Alireza & Javadi, Arzhang & Mobli, Hossein & Abrinia, Karen & Sharifi, Ahmad, 2009. "A review of principle and sun-tracking methods for maximizing solar systems output," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(8), pages 1800-1818, October.
    15. Hafez, A.Z. & Soliman, A. & El-Metwally, K.A. & Ismail, I.M., 2017. "Tilt and azimuth angles in solar energy applications – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 147-168.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Gu, Wenbo & Ma, Tao & Shen, Lu & Li, Meng & Zhang, Yijie & Zhang, Wenjie, 2019. "Coupled electrical-thermal modelling of photovoltaic modules under dynamic conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Xin Xia & Ziqing Zhou & Yinghui Shang & Yong Yang & Yunlong Zi, 2023. "Metallic glass-based triboelectric nanogenerators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Xuan Cuong Ngo & Thi Hong Nguyen & Nhu Y Do & Duc Minh Nguyen & Dai-Viet N. Vo & Su Shiung Lam & Doyeon Heo & Mohammadreza Shokouhimehr & Van-Huy Nguyen & Rajender S. Varma & Soo Young Kim & Quyet Van, 2020. "Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems with Single-Axis Sun Tracker: Case Study for Central Vietnam," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Ewart, M. & Santos, J. & Pacheco, A. & Monteiro, J. & Sequeira, C., 2023. "On a new method to design solar photovoltaic systems in renewable energy communities: The case of Culatra Island (Ria Formosa, Portugal)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    5. Jamroen, Chaowanan & Fongkerd, Chanon & Krongpha, Wipa & Komkum, Preecha & Pirayawaraporn, Alongkorn & Chindakham, Nachaya, 2021. "A novel UV sensor-based dual-axis solar tracking system: Implementation and performance analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    6. Zhong, Qing & Tong, Daoqin, 2020. "Spatial layout optimization for solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 1-11.
    7. Ali Jallal, Mohammed & Chabaa, Samira & Zeroual, Abdelouhab, 2020. "A novel deep neural network based on randomly occurring distributed delayed PSO algorithm for monitoring the energy produced by four dual-axis solar trackers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1182-1196.
    8. Azam, Md Sadequl & Bhattacharjee, Atish & Hassan, Mahedi & Rahaman, Mashudur & Aziz, Shahin & Ali Shaikh, Md Aftab & Islam, Md Saidul, 2024. "Performance enhancement of solar PV system introducing semi-continuous tracking algorithm based solar tracker," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    9. Rakeshkumar Mahto & Deepak Sharma & Reshma John & Chandrasekhar Putcha, 2021. "Agrivoltaics: A Climate-Smart Agriculture Approach for Indian Farmers," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-28, November.
    10. Chen, Ji-Long & He, Lei & Yang, Hong & Ma, Maohua & Chen, Qiao & Wu, Sheng-Jun & Xiao, Zuo-lin, 2019. "Empirical models for estimating monthly global solar radiation: A most comprehensive review and comparative case study in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 91-111.
    11. Mito, Mohamed T. & Ma, Xianghong & Albuflasa, Hanan & Davies, Philip A., 2019. "Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane desalination driven by wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy: State of the art and challenges for large-scale implementation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 669-685.
    12. Talavera, D.L. & Muñoz-Cerón, Emilio & Ferrer-Rodríguez, J.P. & Pérez-Higueras, Pedro J., 2019. "Assessment of cost-competitiveness and profitability of fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems: The case of five specific sites," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 902-913.
    13. Sun, Leihou & Bai, Jianbo & Pachauri, Rupendra Kumar & Wang, Shitao, 2024. "A horizontal single-axis tracking bracket with an adjustable tilt angle and its adaptive real-time tracking system for bifacial PV modules," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    14. Teo, J.C. & Tan, Rodney H.G. & Mok, V.H. & Ramachandaramurthy, Vigna K. & Tan, ChiaKwang, 2020. "Impact of bypass diode forward voltage on maximum power of a photovoltaic system under partial shading conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    15. Shuto Tsuchida & Hirofumi Nonaka & Noboru Yamada, 2022. "Deep Reinforcement Learning for the Optimal Angle Control of Tracking Bifacial Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-14, October.
    16. Pirayawaraporn, Alongkorn & Sappaniran, Sahapol & Nooraksa, Sarawin & Prommai, Chanon & Chindakham, Nachaya & Jamroen, Chaowanan, 2023. "Innovative sensorless dual-axis solar tracking system using particle filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    17. Kim, Jimin & Obregon, Josue & Park, Hoonseok & Jung, Jae-Yoon, 2024. "Multi-step photovoltaic power forecasting using transformer and recurrent neural networks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    18. Zhu, Yongqiang & Liu, Jiahao & Yang, Xiaohua, 2020. "Design and performance analysis of a solar tracking system with a novel single-axis tracking structure to maximize energy collection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Singh, Rajesh & Kumar, Suresh & Gehlot, Anita & Pachauri, Rupendra, 2018. "An imperative role of sun trackers in photovoltaic technology: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3263-3278.
    2. Işık, Erdem & Inallı, Mustafa, 2018. "Artificial neural networks and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems approaches to forecast the meteorological data for HVAC: The case of cities for Turkey," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 7-16.
    3. Makade, Rahul G. & Chakrabarti, Siddharth & Jamil, Basharat & Sakhale, C.N., 2020. "Estimation of global solar radiation for the tropical wet climatic region of India: A theory of experimentation approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 2044-2059.
    4. Grzegorz Ślusarz & Barbara Gołębiewska & Marek Cierpiał-Wolan & Jarosław Gołębiewski & Dariusz Twaróg & Sebastian Wójcik, 2021. "Regional Diversification of Potential, Production and Efficiency of Use of Biogas and Biomass in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Alexandru Pîrjan & Simona-Vasilica Oprea & George Căruțașu & Dana-Mihaela Petroșanu & Adela Bâra & Cristina Coculescu, 2017. "Devising Hourly Forecasting Solutions Regarding Electricity Consumption in the Case of Commercial Center Type Consumers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-36, October.
    6. Zimmerman, Ryan & Panda, Anurag & Bulović, Vladimir, 2020. "Techno-economic assessment and deployment strategies for vertically-mounted photovoltaic panels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    7. Nasrin Aghamohammadi & Stacy Simai Reginald & Ahmad Shamiri & Ali Akbar Zinatizadeh & Li Ping Wong & Nik Meriam Binti Nik Sulaiman, 2016. "An Investigation of Sustainable Power Generation from Oil Palm Biomass: A Case Study in Sarawak," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-19, April.
    8. Sellak, Hamza & Ouhbi, Brahim & Frikh, Bouchra & Palomares, Iván, 2017. "Towards next-generation energy planning decision-making: An expert-based framework for intelligent decision support," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1544-1577.
    9. Thauan Santos & Amaro Olímpio Pereira Júnior & Emilio Lèbre La Rovere, 2017. "Evaluating Energy Policies through the Use of a Hybrid Quantitative Indicator-Based Approach: The Case of Mercosur," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Nur Izzah Hamna A. Aziz & Marlia M. Hanafiah & Shabbir H. Gheewala & Haikal Ismail, 2020. "Bioenergy for a Cleaner Future: A Case Study of Sustainable Biogas Supply Chain in the Malaysian Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-24, April.
    11. Pirayawaraporn, Alongkorn & Sappaniran, Sahapol & Nooraksa, Sarawin & Prommai, Chanon & Chindakham, Nachaya & Jamroen, Chaowanan, 2023. "Innovative sensorless dual-axis solar tracking system using particle filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    12. Khorasanizadeh, Hasti & Parkkinen, Jussi & Parthiban, Rajendran & David Moore, Joel, 2015. "Energy and economic benefits of LED adoption in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 629-637.
    13. Rodrigues, Eugénio & Gomes, Álvaro & Gaspar, Adélio Rodrigues & Henggeler Antunes, Carlos, 2018. "Estimation of renewable energy and built environment-related variables using neural networks – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 959-988.
    14. Barbón, A. & Bayón-Cueli, C. & Bayón, L. & Rodríguez-Suanzes, C., 2022. "Analysis of the tilt and azimuth angles of photovoltaic systems in non-ideal positions for urban applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    15. Linares-Rodríguez, Alvaro & Ruiz-Arias, José Antonio & Pozo-Vázquez, David & Tovar-Pescador, Joaquín, 2011. "Generation of synthetic daily global solar radiation data based on ERA-Interim reanalysis and artificial neural networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 5356-5365.
    16. Rajesh, R. & Carolin Mabel, M., 2015. "A comprehensive review of photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 231-248.
    17. Salcedo-Sanz, Sancho & Deo, Ravinesh C. & Cornejo-Bueno, Laura & Camacho-Gómez, Carlos & Ghimire, Sujan, 2018. "An efficient neuro-evolutionary hybrid modelling mechanism for the estimation of daily global solar radiation in the Sunshine State of Australia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 79-94.
    18. Koerner, Sonja Angelika & Siew, Wei Sian & Salema, Arshad Adam & Balan, Poovarasi & Mekhilef, Saad & Thavamoney, Nisha, 2022. "Energy policies shaping the solar photovoltaics business models in Malaysia with some insights on Covid-19 pandemic effect," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    19. Mohd Chachuli, Fairuz Suzana & Mat, Sohif & Ludin, Norasikin Ahmad & Sopian, Kamaruzzaman, 2021. "Performance evaluation of renewable energy R&D activities in Malaysia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 544-560.
    20. Teke, Ahmet & Yıldırım, H. Başak & Çelik, Özgür, 2015. "Evaluation and performance comparison of different models for the estimation of solar radiation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1097-1107.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:82:y:2018:i:p3:p:2548-2569. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.