Studi Karakteristik PV Panel sebagai Pemanenan Energi Listrik: Efek Solar Tracking

Solar energy is an energy source that is relatively unlimited in availability, environmentally friendly and this energy can be used as alternative energy which will be converted into electrical energy. However, in general the efficiency of photovoltaic conversion is still low. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of solar tracking on the performance of solar panels, so that solar radiation rays are always perpendicular to the panel surface by following the sun's movement pattern so that the intensity of solar radiation received by the solar panels is maximized. In this research, the solar panels follow the sun, where the sun's movement angle was 15o per hour, thus getting 8 variations in the solar panel tracking angle. This research takes data on solar radiation intensity (IG), panel temperature, voltage (Voc) and current (Isc) starting at 08.00 WITA until 16.15 WITA. The results of this research show that optimum efficiency was achieved on average in July at 20%, maximum efficiency was from 08.00 WITA to 14.00 WITA with an average of 22%, while without tracking with a slope of 10o optimum efficiency was achieved with an average of 14%. This research should use an automatic tracking design equipped with sensors that follow the sun's movement patterns to make it easier to change angles when collecting data.