The future of PV tracking? An interdisciplinary performance assessment of a novel design with panel protection

Armin Buchroithner, Lennard Visser, Rupert Preßmair, Graham McClone and Jan Kleissl

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 212, issue C

Abstract: PV trackers are among the most effective technological advancements to increase photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation and yearly energy yield without additional PV panels. In this publication, a novel dual axis PV tracking device with face-to-face solar panel protection is described. The analysis of the proposed system addresses three scientific fields and explains their correlations and mutual influences. First, PV tracking technology and its potential are reviewed in the global techno-economic context of the renewable energy transition and characteristics of the PV and tracker market. The current situation and trends in energy production, manufacturing and supply chain issues, as well as PV module life cycle assessment and recycling are discussed. Second, engineering aspects of PV trackers are presented with a focus on the novel design for a low-cost PV tracker incorporating a patented folding and tracking mechanism with a dual-use actuating system. Third, a PV yield simulation quantifies snow shedding and soiling reduction benefits of the proposed PV tracker, as well as the optional utilization of bi-facial PV modules. The proposed PV tracker is shown to be particularly beneficial in high latitude, high elevation, and high albedo environments. Other benefits include longer cleaning intervals in dusty regions and resistance to extreme weather events. Potential drawbacks of the design approach and next steps for commercialization are also discussed.

Keywords: PV tracker; Photovoltaics; Bifacial PV; Solar tracking; Lightweight design; Deep actuators; Anti-soiling; Snow shedding; PV yield simulation; PV market analyses; Life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403212401013X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:212:y:2025:i:c:s136403212401013x

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.115287

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().