Prototype of Dual Axis Tracking System For Optimization of Energy Harvesting on The Miniature Photovoltaic Array

Solar Power Plants (SPP) in Indonesia have the potential to reach 207.8 giga watts. SPP utilizes solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. The majority of solar panel arrays in SPP are currently installed statically (silent), so that their surface cannot be kept perpendicular to the angle of incidence of sunlight. These problems cause the photoelectric effect less optimal. Dynamic Tracking System for Solar Panel is a tool designed to keep the surface of the solar panel array perpendicular to the angle of the sun's light. The main components of this tool are LDR (Light Depending Resistor) sensor, RTC (Real Time Clock) module, microcontroller, and servo motor. By processing the LDR sensor data and the RTC module on the smart sequential algorithm that has been designed, the microcontroller is able to control the servo motor on the mechanical device to maintain the direction of the solar panel array so that it is always perpendicular to the angle of the sun's rays throughout the day. The test results show that the Dynamic Tracking System for Solar Panel has succeeded in optimizing the efficiency of harvesting electrical energy by solar panel arrays as evidenced by the presence of a surplus of electric power with the lowest value of 7.3% and the highest value of 24.22%. The hope of future implementation is that this tool can optimize the acquisition of electrical power and optimal electrical efficiency in SPP.