Maximum Power Point Tracking of Solar Panel using Microcontroller

Sustainable advancements are the only alternative we are left with; with global warming increasing alarmingly and resources which are exhaustible in nature facing depletion, sustainable energy will remain as the main source of power in near future. Solar Trackers are devices which automatically orient in the direction of high intensity sunlight to effectively harness maximum solar power. In this paper, we have discussed design of an Automatic Solar Tracker using a solar panel, light-dependent resistor (LDR) and DC Motors based on Microcontroller 8051 platform. When the sun moves, the LDR sensor senses a reduction in light intensity forcing the DC Motors to adjust solar panel accordingly in the direction of high intensity. As dust gets collected on the panel throughout the day and reduces the efficiency of the panel, a cleaning mechanism has also been proposed.