Systems for and methods of positioning solar panels in an array of solar panels to efficiently capture sunlight

A solar tracking system comprising:

• multiple rows of solar panel modules forming a grid of solar panel modules, wherein the multiple rows of solar panel modules are orientable to a solar source independently of each other;
• and
• a control system configured to orient each of the multiple rows of solar panel modules to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on an orientation of each of the multiple rows of solar panel modules to the solar source and first data including weather conditions local to each of the multiple rows of solar panel modules,
• wherein the performance model includes a polynomial having variables weighted by gains, and
• wherein the gains include regular tracking gains and backtracking gains depending on a time of day.

A solar tracking system comprising:

• multiple rows of solar panel modules (SPMi) orientable to a solar source independently of each other;
• and
• a control system configured to orient each of the SPMi to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the SPMi, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the SPMi based on an orientation of each of the SPMi to the solar source and first data including weather conditions local to each of the SPMi,
• wherein each of the SPMi includes a corresponding self-powered controller (SPCi), for i=1 to X,
• wherein the control system includes network control units (NCUj) each coupled to a corresponding one or more of the SPCi, for i=1 to X, j=1 to Y, Y<X,
• wherein the NCUj are coupled to a central controller, and
• wherein the central controller includes:
• a weather look-up module for receiving weather data local to each of the SPMi;
• a global-horizontal irradiance and diffuse horizontal irradiance module;
• a row-to-row tracking module for determining a slope of each of the SPMi to a horizontal;
• a diffuse-angle adjustor for adjusting the performance model based on the slopes, a time of year, and a time of day;
• a first communication module for transmitting orientation commands to each of the SPCi based on the performance model;
• and
• a second communication module for receiving data from each of the NCUj for i=1 to X, j=1 to Y.