Grid-Tie Rooftop Solar System Using

Enhanced Utilization of Solar Energy

Debadyoti Ghosh, Rahul Basu, Sreemoyee Madhura Karmakar, Arundhati Roy ,Akshay
Kumar,Jyotirmoy Chakraborty,Anupam Mondal, Uttiyo Hari

Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Institute of Engineering & Management,

Salt Lake, Kolkata, India.

[email protected]

[email protected]

Abstract—Because of recent concerns about air and water accordingly. In order to determine the position of the
pollution and the depletion of fossil fuels, interest on use of sun in the sky, the concept of zenith and azimuth angles
renewable energy is growing day by day. Solar energy is is also used to derive the relations between different
one of the important renewable energy resources on earth. parameters of the solar radiation. Reference [7] gives
The present trend is to use the solar energy for generating study on determination of sun position in the sky based
electricity with the help of grid-tie roof top solar system. on the angles of zenith and azimuth. In reference [3],
But due to improper harvesting technique, efficiency of
increase in efficiency has been done by the application
this system is very poor. Therefore, different types of
techniques have been developed. One of such techniques is of Arduino based solar tracking system. Here we are
the use of solar tracker which is very popular today. As we actually going to implement our developed technique to
know sun is continuously changing its position in a day, the the grid-tie rooftop solar system which is very popular
incident light on solar panels may vary accordingly, due to its unique capability of reducing electricity
thereby varying the efficiency of the system. In this paper, consumption costs. Thus, when the intensity of light
we have shown the operation of an ARDUINO based dual- decreases due to the shifting of position of sun, the solar
axis active tracking system, which can keep the solar panels also start to change their position according to
panels following the direction of the sun face in a the sun-position so that they can able to accumulate
continuous fashion. Dual axis motion is done by two
maximum intensity of light. This tracking system helps
stepper motors and the sun position is sensed by LDRs.
Thus we can improve the light gathering capability of the to utilize every bit of solar energy very efficiently which
panels as well as the efficiency to some extent. can accelerate the income from the solar plants.

Keywords – Solar power; solar irradiance; solar tracker;

LDR, stepper motor; ARDUINO. II. SOLAR IRRADIANCE

For designing aforesaid system the concept of solar

I. INTRODUCTION irradiance is very essential. Radiant energy from sun is
the primary source of energy on earth. This radiant
Solar energy may lead the world economy in near energy is measured as solar irradiance which shows the
future. But the techniques already used for harvesting amount of power per unit area received from the sun in
this energy gives only 20% efficiency. Therefore, the the form of electromagnetic radiation. Solar irradiance
increase in efficiency is of great challenge. Some of is an instantaneous measure of solar power over a
very recent research works have been mentioned in particular area. As the position of sun is changing in a
reference section which show that by considering these day, therefore, solar irradiance may also vary
technologies efficiency can be increased. References throughout the day. Solar insolation is another term
[2], [4], [5] and [6] show single axis as well dual axis
which actually gives measure of solar irradiance over a
tracking systems by using optical sensors and
period of time. Generally it is considered for a single
microcontrollers. In reference [1], image processing is
day. Thus solar insolation is the amount of solar energy
applied to find out the brightest region of sun in the sky
in a particular day so that tracking angle can be adjusted that strikes a square meter of the earth's surface in a
single day. It is expressed in kWh/m2/day. By using
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solar calculator, solar insolation data for different b. The model with the solar panel is placed in a dark
locations in the world can be obtained. room and it is noticed that there is no movement of
the solar tracker.

c. Now use torch light on left LDR. An angular

movement will be found according to the direction
III. CMPONENTS USED
of torch light in left.
Tracking system consists of the following components:
d. Now torch light is applied to right LDR and same
a. Solar panel (10Wp) angular motion will be noticed in right.
b.Two hybrid stepper motors (1.80/step) e. But if light is applied to the middle of two LDRs,
c. Arduino Uno then intensity on both the LDRs is equal. As a
d. Motor driver IC result no movement will be occurred until there is a
e. Two LDRs difference between the intensity of light falling on
LDRs.
IV. DESIGN OF THE MODEL

VI. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

In this paper, we have shown only the model which is
designed on the basis of dual-axis active tracking For increasing the efficiency of rooftop solar system, we
system. We have considered electric drives and actuator have designed a dual axis active solar tracking system.
to move the tracker in both vertically and horizontally. This dual axis tracking helps the solar panels to achieve
In this model two stepper motors are used which are maximum irradiance. Actually the system helps to
capable to move the panel in both the directions. As sun minimize the angle of incident light (the angle that a ray
light sensing device we have used LDRs (Light of light makes with a line perpendicular to the surface).
Dependent Resistor) which response with sunlight Therefore, it is very important that solar tracker must be
intensity and initiate the function of the stepper motors. angled correctly to collect maximum energy. The
Entire controlling is monitored by Arduino objective of this work is to design, implement, monitor
microcontroller. This is the heart of the system which and evaluate a grid-tie rooftop solar system in
performs all the commanding and controlling accordance with the proper guidelines and ‘sun position
operations. Figure.1 shows the block diagram of the in the sky’. We have designed the model only, but not
designed model. practically implemented in rooftop solar pannel.
Nonetheless, the working will be same if we apply the
model practically.

VI. CONCLUSION

The paper shows the working function of stepper motors

as per the signal generated from light sensing circuit for
maximum intensity of light. LDRs have been used here
as light sensing devices. But we can also work on
developing an image processing based algorithm to
detect the proper location of sun with high accuracy.
Besides in future, with the practical implementation of
this model, different real-time data can be obtained from
where the percentage efficiency can be calculated and if
any other modifications are needed, then further new
design techniques can be developed. Hybrid plant
concept may be introduced. Thus this type of system
Figure.1 can be the best supplement to traditional sources of
electric power.

V. WORKING PROCEDURE
VII. REFERENCES
a. Initially power is supplied to the circuit.
[1] Ching-Chuan Wei, Yu-Chang Song, Chia-Chi Chang and
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the Brightest Region in the Sky Image Sensor”, 25
November 2016, www.mdpi.com/1424- [6] Reshmi Banerjee, “Solar Tracking System”, International
8220/16/12/1995/pdf. Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 5,
Issue 3, March 2015 1ISSN 2250-3153.
[2] S. Sivasakthi, E. Vinodha, T. Vasanthakumari, D. Vinitha
and P. Balakavi, “Automatic Solar Tracking System for
Power Generation Using Microcontroller and Sensor”,
ICEIET, 2016.

[3] Ayushi Nitin Ingole, “Arduino based solar tracking

system”, Satellite Conference ICSTSD 2016 International
Conference on Science and Technology for Sustainable
Development, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA, 2016. ISSN:
2348 – 8549, Page 61.

[4] Jing-min Wang and Chia-liang Lu, “Design and

Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-axis Single
Motor for An Optical Sensor based Photovoltaic System”,
Sensors, Issn 1424-8220, 2013.

[5] J. Rizk and Y. Chaiko, “Solar Tracking System: More

Efficient use of Solar Panels”, World Academy of Science,

[7] Shahriar Bazyari, Reza Keypour, Shahrokh Farhangi,

Amir Ghaedi and Khashayar Bazyari, “A Study on the
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Engineering, 2014, 2, 718-728 Published on April 2014 in
SciRes.

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