Fresnel lenses and auto tracking to increase solar panel output power

Abstract

This solar panel, which is equipped with microcontroller-based auto-tracking, is also equipped with a Fresnel lens to obtain more optimal power because the Fresnel lens has the property of bending or refracting light rays that pass through it so that it can focus sunlight. The Fresnel lens focuses sunlight radiation onto the solar panels. To determine the magnitude of the influence of Fresnel lenses on increasing the power produced by solar panels, two solar panels of the same size (11 cm × 11 cm) were moved by auto-tracking using the same axis. One solar panel is not fitted with a Fresnel lens, and the other is fitted with a Fresnel lens measuring 30 cm × 30 cm, where the distance between the Fresnel lens and the solar panel is 5 cm. Measurements of the output power of both solar panels were carried out simultaneously, namely from 08.00 to 18.00 West Indonesia Time (WIB). The power output of both solar panels was measured in 30-minute intervals, resulting in 21 measurements. Solar panels using Fresnel lenses produce an output power that is 105.306% more significant than that of those without Fresnel lenses.