| Simple/crude estimate: Sunlight per m^2 of static solar panel is Cos[x] - x=0 at midday, x=-pi/2 at sunrise. Static panel total daily sunlight: Integrate[ Cos[x] ,{x, -pi/2, pi/2}] = 2. Moving panel total daily sunlight: Integrate[ Cos[0] ,{x, -pi/2, pi/2}] = pi. Ratio = pi/2 = 1.57. So a 57% increase in daily power, in theory, near the equator. But - I have ignored atmospheric absorption - at sunrise, the light goes through more atmosphere to get to your panels - I don't know how much this matters. On slightly overcast days, this is presumably very important - how cloudy is it where you are, in theory? :) Also, you get power from scattered sunlight. Very roughly it is 10% of your panel's rated power, even when it has no direct sunlight falling on it. These 2 effects reduce the benefit of tracking vs static. When I was looking at making my own tracking system, I found a Canadian company that claimed (iirc) "30% gain" for their tracking system. I thought 'only 30%, it seems hardly worth it?' (Except for load-balancing reasons). Other stuff: Most domestic panels are on roofs - they are often not 'ideally sited' - e.g. do not face due south, roofs not steep enough. |