Solar tracking system for complex terrain

A method for implementing a solar tracking algorithm, the method comprising:

• obtaining physical location parameters associated with each of a set of solar panels of a solar field, the physical location parameters comprising a relative row-to-row height and spacing of the solar panels;
• storing the physical location parameters in a solar panel database;
• generating aggregate time-based output power data associated with the solar field via a parameter aggregation tool based on geolocation data associated with the solar field;
• generating a solar tracking control scheme for the solar field via a solar tracking tool based on the aggregate time-based output power data, the geolocation data associated with the solar field, and a row-to-row backtracking constraint;
• and
• implementing solar tracking of the set of solar panels of the solar field via a panel tracking controller based on the solar tracking control scheme.

A solar tracking system comprising:

• a solar panel database configured to store data associated with a solar field, the data associated with the solar field comprising physical location parameters associated with each of a set of solar panels of the solar field, the physical location parameters comprising a relative row-to-row height and spacing of the solar panels;
• a parameter aggregation tool configured to aggregate the physical location parameters to generate aggregate time-based output power data associated with the solar field based on geolocation data associated with the solar field;
• and
• a solar tracking tool comprising an ideal solar tracking control scheme for a default set of physical location parameters corresponding to equal row-to-row height and spacing of the solar panels, the solar tracking tool being configured to adjust the ideal solar tracking control scheme based on the aggregate time-based output power data, the geolocation data associated with the solar field, and a row-to-row backtracking constraint to generate an adjusted solar tracking control scheme, such that the set of solar panels of the solar field can implement solar tracking based on the solar tracking scheme.