Sun-tracking Solar Panel with Battery Charger Based on the MPPT Technology

The energy crisis is a massive problem in today's world. Conventional energy sources are not only limited but also major contributors to environmental pollution. Renewable energy sources are becoming priorities worldwide. To reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, it is necessary to explore alternative options. Solar energy is rapidly gaining attention as an important means of expanding the use of renewable energy. Solar cells, which convert solar energy into electrical energy, are expensive and relatively inefficient. Various mechanisms and systems are used to increase the efficiency of solar cells and maximize energy generation. A solar tracking system is used to enhance the efficiency of solar cells by tracking the movement of the sun. This article describes the methodology for designing an automatic solar tracker based on the ESP32 microcontroller. Light-dependent resistors (LDRs) are used as sensors to detect the current position of the sun. The proposed tracker has a precise control mechanism that adjusts the orientation of the solar panel based on the measured values from the LDRs to achieve the optimal position perpendicular to the sun, ensuring the highest productivity in energy generation. The result is a constructed small-scale prototype of a solar tracking system, along with a description of its components and the programming part.