Single Axis Solar Tracking System

This paper is about the design and development of a microcontroller based solar tracking system. Solar energy is rapidly becoming an alternative means of electrical source in Kenya and all over the world and the solar energy becomes profitable when the solar rays are tracked with its maximum efficiency. The best way to get the maximum power output of solar array is by sun tracking. Usually, solar panels are steady and always the front faces the direction the sun rises from and it evident from the stationary mounted panels we see on buildings and other solar plants, this causes less amount of light incident on the panel. When we use the solar tracker system, it will move in the direction of the sun and get more amount of light incident. The great benefits of solar energy is that it is sustainable, highly reliable and requires little maintenance. Therefore, came up a system that deals with the design and construction of solar tracking system, whereby the solar panel follows the sun as it moves. The project is based on a microcontroller which controls the system by communicating with sensors and motor based on movement of the sun, the system employs light dependent resistors that will vary their resistance depending on the light intensities, light dependent resistors give output to the Arduino every time and Arduino processes the data and sends a control signal to the motor. Through the design, implementation, testing and results of the project, an efficient way of increasing the production of solar power is demonstrated

Energy Management System for Solar And Grid System

Electricity is an important resource both in domestic and industrial environment. The rise in electricity demand has led to conventional resources being exhausted and possibly lead to rise in electricity prices. since conventional resources are being exhausted, there is need to search for alternative energy sources to supplement the conventional sources. Use of green energy as an alternative to generation of electricity from conventional sources is currently on the rise. This study aims to design and implement an Energy Management System (EMS) in a grid-tied solar Photovoltaic (PV) system. The aim of this EMS is to reduce the grid electricity need to an ordinary consumer in Kenya and create dependency on renewable energy sources. One of the major expenses of the ordinary consumer in Kenya is the cost of electricity. Murang'a University of Technology was chosen as the case study. Arduino Uno chosen to switch between the micro sources and the utility grid with the micro sources given priority over the utility grid. With sufficient solar irradiation, the solar PV supplies the load power provided the load demand is met, the excess charges the battery through charge controller. With a drop in irradiance, the battery storage system supplies the load provided the load demand is met. The grid supplies the load when the battery power drops below the load demand. With the drop in supply current drawn from the micro sources below specified thresh hold value, the load with the highest current rating was disconnected first and immediately reconnected to the utility grid