Researchers from the University of Zaragoza in Spain have developed a new control strategy for high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) sun trackers that could improve their efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. The team, led by Manuel G. Satué, includes Fernando Castaño, Manuel G. Ortega, and Francisco R. Rubio, who specialize in renewable energy systems and control engineering.
The new strategy, detailed in a paper published in the journal Applied Energy, aims to address the challenges posed by mechanical and installation uncertainties in HCPV systems. These uncertainties can lead to misalignments that reduce the efficiency of solar tracking, which is crucial for HCPV systems that concentrate sunlight onto small, highly efficient solar cells.
The researchers’ approach involves analyzing the electric power produced by the HCPV system to sense the position of the sun. By continuously adapting to different sources of error, the control strategy can avoid the need for calibration, which is typically required to maintain the system’s accuracy. This is particularly important for HCPV systems, which have strict specifications for solar tracking to ensure optimal performance.
The team tested their strategy under various conditions, including sunny and moderately cloudy weather, as well as with different installation precisions. They intentionally uncalibrated the system to demonstrate the strategy’s ability to adapt to misalignments. The experimental results, conducted with an industrial-grade solar tracker, showed the validity of the proposed control strategy.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are significant. By improving the efficiency of HCPV sun trackers and reducing the need for calibration, the strategy could lower maintenance costs and improve the overall performance of HCPV systems. This could make HCPV technology more competitive with other forms of renewable energy, contributing to the broader goal of increasing the share of clean energy in the global energy mix.
The research was published in the journal Applied Energy, a publication known for its focus on applied research in energy and its interdisciplinary approach to energy-related topics.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.