Non-mechanical Tracking Free Concentrated PV Panels

Abstract

The use of solar panels is rapidly increasing globally as renewable energy becomes essential for sustainable development and power system resilience. In Hong Kong, the installation of Photovoltaics (PV) panels has rapidly increased due to the Feed-in Tariff scheme introduced by the government. It is common to see flat solar panels on rooftops harvesting solar energy across the city. To enhance PV panel efficiency, a design called Concentrated PV (CPV) uses lenses or mirrors to focus sunlight on a small area, increasing efficiency by up to 39%. However, CPV systems require solar tracking devices to keep the focused sunlight aligned with the PV cells as the sun moves throughout the day, which complicates the design in Hong Kong’s harsh weather, particularly during summer typhoons. A reliable, tracking-free CPV system could offer more consistent power output, minimizing fluctuations and disturbances in future power networks. Therefore, A new CPV design is proposed to eliminate the need for solar tracking, making it more resilient and adaptable to local conditions.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Supervisor	Simen Zhou (Supervisor)