Solar Tracking System Using Microcontroller

Abstract

A renewable resource is a resource that can be repeatedly used and yet be recovered from natural sources that are present in our solar system, some of the renewable resources are oxygen, sunlight, fresh water, etc. Solar energy is one of the main renewable sources of energy which has a greater importance than before. Since the solar energy is available in abundance, if we make proper and efficient use of it, we will be able to solve the crisis of the reduction in fossil fuels. Maximizing power output from a solar system is to increase the efficiency. In order to maximize power output from solar panels, the panels must be aligned with the sun. To do so a system that tracks the sun is required. But having a stationary solar panel, might not be the most efficient way for conversion of solar energy into electrical energy. By using panels that can be rotated along an axis, with respect to the position of the sun, we can improve the efficiency of conversion by at least 30-40%. This paper deals with the design and construction of solar tracking system by using a microcontroller, stepper motor, motor driver and solar panel. The main component of this tracker is MSP430 micro-controller which is programmed to track the sunlight and to make sure that the solar panel is made to receive a great volume of sunlight and help in generating a considerably large amount of power. This work was basically a development that was done as a college project.