While almost everyone knows what solar panels are, not everyone has heard of a solar tracking system. So if you asked yourself what solar tracking is after reading the headline, don't feel left out. It's a relatively new technology in green energy. Here's a quick breakdown of what is solar tracking is, and why you should have it installed.
Solar Tracking Explained
While solar energy can reduce your monthly power bills, or even eliminate the relatively high cost of initial installation scares off most people. Fortunately, there's a way to reduce the initial investment in solar energy, making the green technology available to almost anyone. One of the ways you can reduce the installation cost of solar harvesting devices is opting for solar tracking technologies as opposed to traditional solar panels.
While solar panels with solar tracking technology may look similar to traditional solar panels, there's one big difference. Solar trackers track the movement of the sun across the sky, directing either solar panels, mirrors, lenses or parabolic troughs at the sun. On the other hand, regular solar panels cannot track the sun's movement.
Advantages of Solar Tracking Technology and Why It's Cheaper To Install
Now that you know what the technology does, you won't be asking what is solar tracking is as we discuss the advantages. Let's look at some of the joys of using this technology.
- Obviously, the biggest benefit of installing solar trackers is an increase in electricity output. Since the technology tracks the sun's movement across the sky, your solar panels, or any other payload, is always facing the sun. The increased exposure to sunlight means the equipment gets more sun time hence a higher output compared to stationary panels.
- Secondly, there are several solar trackers to choose from depending on your needs. For instance, you can opt for a single axis solar tracker or a dual axis tracker depending on your unique requirements, the desired output, local weather, and even the latitude of the location.
- Thirdly, solar trackers produce more electricity than fixed-tilt systems. However, solar trackers occupy a smaller space compared to regular panels. That's to say you need relatively few solar trackers to produce the same amount from electricity a dozen fixed panels. Therefore, trackers are ideal for space conservation.
Hence, if you are planning for a relatively large solar energy harvesting project, solar trackers can reduce the installation cost considerably. You only need fewer solar tracking panels to get the required amount of electricity.
What You Need To Know Before Installing Solar Trackers
There are a few elements you need to be aware of before installing solar trackers:
- If you are only buying a few solar trackers, they may prove to be more costly than their stationary counterparts. The complex mechanisms built into solar tracking panels make them slightly more expensive than ordinary panels.
- Solar trackers require a bit more maintenance than fixed panels. Again, the moving parts inside the trackers demand a bit more attention to ensure they are nicely oiled and keep them from wearing out.
