Enhancing solar energy generation in a tropical context through a single-axis tracking system

Enhancing the performance of energy generation technologies has become essential as global energy demand continues to rise. Photovoltaic systems have been among the most studied and rapidly expanding technologies in recent years. However, the growth of the technology has not been equally reflected in low-latitude countries, despite their high solar energy generation potential, leaving opportunities for improved generation efficiency and total power output. This study addresses this gap by proposing a set of discrete tracking systems designed to enhance energy production in these regions, along with an experimental approach to evaluate their benefits. Two discrete tracking systems (one with two positions and another with four) were designed and tested experimentally in Medellin, Colombia, and the generation results were compared to a fix and continuous tracking system. Four Position Discrete Tracking (4PDT) was found to achieve a 27% energy gain over Horizontal Fixed Tilt System (HFTS) under clear sky conditions. On the other hand, the Two Position Discrete Tracking (2PDT) achieved an energy gain of 18% over HFTS under the same conditions, confirming that the use of discrete tracking systems is technically desired for tropical areas. • Single-axis tracking of two and four-position is experimentally validated under tropical equatorial conditions. • Four positions discrete tracking increased the energy output by 27% on clear sky days. • Four positions discrete tracking achieved 99% of the energy produced by continuous tracking. • Clear Sky Index (CSI) is proposed and experimentally validated as a performance metric to assess the discrete tracking performance under tropical equatorial conditions.