Systems and methods for split-cell and multi-panel photovoltaic tracking control

A solar tracker system, comprising:

• a first single-axis solar tracker including a solar array rotatably coupled to a first support pier and a first motor for driving rotation of the solar array;
• a second single-axis solar tracker comprising split-cell or multi-panel solar arrays, the split-cell or multi-panel solar arrays including a first segment and a second segment, the first segment and the second segment being electrically separated, the split-cell or multi-panel solar arrays rotatably coupled to a second support pier and a second motor for driving rotation of the split-cell or multi-panel solar array;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first motor and the second motor, the controller configured to:
• determine a sun elevation angle;
• determine a split-cell or multi-panel solar array backtracking angle for the first single-axis solar tracker at which, the first single-axis solar tracker shades at least a portion of the second segment and leaves the first segment unshaded, the split-cell or multi-panel solar array backtracking angle being based on the sun elevation angle;
• and
• control the first motor to rotate the solar array of the first single-axis solar tracker to the split-cell or multi-panel solar array backtracking angle.

A control system for a plurality of solar tracker rows comprising:

• at least one sensor providing information to a controller indicative of a sun angle;
• based at least in part on the sun angle, calculating a first backtracking angle for a first row of solar modules that avoids shading of an adjacent second row of solar modules;
• based at least in part on the sun angle, calculating a second backtracking angle that causes the first row of solar modules to partially shade the adjacent row of solar modules, the second backtracking angle having a lower angle of incidence relative to the sun angle than the first backtracking angle;
• determining whether the first backtracking angle or the second backtracking angle will achieve a relative increase in total power generation;
• and
• controlling the first row of solar modules to rotate to the first or the second backtracking angle based on the step of determining.