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Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source on earth, and has been gaining a lot of attention in recent years. In this work, Solar Sun tracker was setup using Arduino UNO®, and its simulation study was done using MATLAB Simulink®. A solar tracker positions the solar panels perpendicular to the sun and follows the sun's path, ensuring optimal incident sunlight on the panels throughout the day. Proposed single-axis tracking design could enhance the energy generation efficiency by about 35%. Experimental solar tracker system was assembled with Arduino UNO® microcontroller, Servo-motor and Light Dependent Resistor’s (LDR). Based on light intensity readings from LDR’s, Arduino® calculates the sun’s position relative to the panel’s orientation. The servo motor then adjusts the angle of the solar panel to maintain perpendicular orientation with respect to sun. The automated sun tracker system gave constant maximum value of voltage throughout the day. In simulated model, the input data were Sun position and Solar Irradiance, based on which Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) feedback motor controller positioned the solar panel. The sun position data were obtained from the National Solar Radiation Database for the GPS Coordinates. As the global demand for sustainable energy solutions intensifies, the world is moving towards large-scale solar deployment. This study also explores recycling processes for end-of-life solar photovoltaic (PV) system to reclaim valuable metals, reducing environmental impacts of mining, processing and refining new raw-material. Utilizing repurposed waste materials in PV cooling is found to improve panel efficiency by about 12%.
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