Denny Haryanto Sinaga, Handrea Bernando Tambunan, Janter Pangaduan Simanjuntak, Sapitri Januariyansah, Ricky Andi Syahputra, T. Afrian
This study presents the design and performance analysis of a Dual Axis Solar Tracker system integrated with an active cooling mechanism to enhance the efficiency of solar panels. Conducted in Indonesia, the research aims to support the national agenda on renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction. The system utilizes light-dependent resistors (LDRs), linear actuators, and an Arduino controller to dynamically align panels with the sun's movement, while a water-based cooling system regulates panel temperature. Four configurations were tested: static, tracker-only, cooling-only, and combined tracker-cooling systems. The results revealed that the integrated tracker-cooling configuration achieved the highest power output of 82.81 W and an average efficiency of 13.169%, outperforming all other setups. The dual enhancements significantly improved solar energy conversion by maximizing sunlight absorption and reducing thermal losses. These findings highlight the potential of combining tracking and cooling technologies to increase photovoltaic performance in tropical regions. © 2025 IEEE.
Universitas Negeri Medan, Innovation Centre of Renewable Sources and Waste Integration for Sustainable Energy (INNERWISE), Department of Electrical Engineering, Medan, Indonesia; PT PLN (Persero), Power Generation Research and Technology Division, Jakarta, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Medan, Innovation Centre of Renewable Sources and Waste Integration for Sustainable Energy (INNERWISE), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Medan, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Medan, Innovation Centre of Renewable Sources and Waste Integration for Sustainable Energy (INNERWISE), Department of Chemistry, Medan, Indonesia; Universitas Negeri Medan, Department of Electrical Engineering, Medan, Indonesia
