A solar tracker is a motorised mounting system that rotates solar panels to follow the sun during the day. By keeping panels closer to the ideal sun angle, trackers generate more electricity than fixed-tilt systems. Single-axis trackers move east to west, while dual-axis trackers also adjust tilt seasonally.
What You Need to Know About Solar Trackers
Up to 25% more power from the same panels: single-axis trackers typically produce 15 to 25% more energy per year than fixed-tilt systems, according to NREL research.
Single-axis trackers are the standard choice for large ground-mounted solar power parks.
Around 30% more power with bifacial panels: bifacial modules on single-axis trackers add a further 4 to 15% energy, averaging 9% globally.
Trackers cost more upfront and need more maintenance than fixed-tilt structures.
Fixed-tilt remains the better choice for rooftops, small systems and difficult terrain.
The right choice depends on site-specific energy modelling and financial analysis.
What Is a Solar Tracker?
A solar tracker is a device that turns solar panels to follow the sun as it moves across the sky.
Think of a sunflower. It turns its face toward the sun to capture more light. A solar tracker does the same job for solar panels, using motors, controllers, structural components and software.
Fixed-tilt panels stay at one angle all day, so they face the sun directly for only a few hours around noon. A tracker keeps adjusting the panel angle, so direct sunlight hits the panel surface more squarely for more of the day. That is where the extra energy comes from.
How Does a Solar Tracker Work?
A solar tracker works in four steps:
Locate the sun: The controller calculates the sun's position from the date, time and GPS coordinates of the site. Some systems also use sensors.
Calculate the best position: Software determines the appropriate panel position for that moment and can use backtracking to reduce row-to-row shading, particularly during periods when the sun is low in the sky.
Move the panels: An electric motor, gearbox or actuator rotates the structure, usually through a steel beam called a torque tube.
Protect the system: In high winds, the tracker moves the panels into a safe stow position to reduce wind loading and protect the system.
In a typical single-axis system, tracker rows run north to south. The panels face east in the morning and rotate toward the west through the afternoon.
Main Components of a Solar Tracking System
Mounting structure and torque tube: supports the modules and transfers rotation along the row.
Drive system: motors, gearboxes or linear actuators that move the tracker.
Controller: runs the tracking algorithm and controls movement.
Sensors: monitor wind speed, panel position and other operating conditions.
Foundations and piles: anchor the structure to the ground.
Monitoring software: helps O&M teams track performance, alarms and system status.
What Are the Types of Solar Trackers?
There are two main types of solar trackers: single-axis and dual-axis. They can also be grouped by how they are controlled.
1. Single-Axis Solar Trackers
A single-axis tracker rotates panels around one axis, following the sun from east to west. It is the most widely used tracker in large ground-mounted solar projects because it delivers strong extra energy with manageable complexity.
Horizontal single-axis tracker (HSAT): the axis lies flat and runs north to south. This is the standard design in utility-scale solar parks.
Vertical single-axis tracker (VSAT): the axis is vertical. It suits certain higher-latitude sites.
Tilted single-axis tracker (TSAT): the axis is set at an angle, a middle path for specific site conditions.
2. Dual-Axis Solar Trackers
A dual-axis tracker moves panels around two axes. It follows the sun east to west each day and also adjusts tilt as the sun's height changes through the year. It captures more energy than single-axis tracking, but with greater mechanical complexity and cost.
3. Trackers by Control Method
Active trackers: use motors controlled by algorithms, sensors or both. Almost all commercial trackers are active.
Passive trackers: use a heat-sensitive fluid that expands in sunlight to shift the panel position.
Chronological trackers: move on a calculated time-based schedule instead of sensing the sun directly.
Solar Tracker Types at a Glance
Tracker type | Movement | Energy gain vs fixed tilt | Cost and complexity | Best suited for |
Fixed tilt (no tracker) | None | Baseline | Lowest | Rooftops, uneven land, projects where simplicity matters |
Single-axis | East to west | Typically 15 to 25% | Moderate | Utility-scale and large C&I ground-mounted projects |
Dual-axis | East to west plus tilt | Higher than single-axis, but the extra gain is often small relative to the added cost | Highest | Specialised applications where maximum yield per panel justifies the cost |
How Much More Energy Does a Solar Tracker Produce?
Single-axis trackers typically produce 15 to 25% more energy per year than fixed-tilt systems. This figure comes from NREL research published in the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. Actual gains vary with location, sunlight quality, terrain, module technology and tracker design.
The same study found that bifacial modules on single-axis trackers add a further 4 to 15% energy, depending on module type and ground reflectivity, with a global average of 9%. It also found that smart tracking algorithms can add more than 1% annual yield by adjusting tilt on cloudy days.
An example analysis presented by NREL at Solar Power International 2018 shows how these gains stack up. Against a monofacial fixed-tilt system, a monofacial single-axis tracker produced 26.0% more annual DC energy, and a bifacial single-axis tracker produced 31.3% more. These are results from one example layout, not guarantees for every project.
In short: a solar tracker gives up to 25% more power from the same panels, and around 30% when paired with bifacial panels.
In India, the gain for any specific project should be confirmed through site-level energy modelling, because irradiance, terrain, layout and tariff structure all shape the result.
Trackers also change the shape of daily generation. A fixed-tilt system peaks sharply at noon, while a tracker produces a broader curve with more power in the morning and late afternoon. For projects with time-of-day tariffs, when energy is produced can matter as much as how much.
Solar Tracker vs Fixed-Tilt: What's the Difference?
A solar tracker moves panels to follow the sun, while a fixed-tilt system holds panels at one angle. Trackers produce more energy, and fixed-tilt systems cost less and need less maintenance.
Factor | Fixed-tilt system | Single-axis solar tracker |
Energy output | Standard reference | Typically 15 to 25% higher |
Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
Maintenance | Few moving parts | Motors, bearings, controllers and drives need O&M |
Land and terrain | Flexible on uneven terrain | Works best on relatively flat, uniform land |
Wind strategy | Fixed structural design | Needs a reliable stow strategy |
Generation curve | Concentrated around noon | Broader through the day |
Typical applications | Rooftops, brownfield sites, constrained projects | Large ground-mounted solar power parks |
Evaluate a tracker through project-specific energy modelling and financial analysis, not energy gain alone.
What Are the Benefits of Solar Trackers?
More energy from the same modules. Single-axis tracking typically raises annual generation by 15 to 25%.
Better land productivity. More electricity from the same project area.
Lower cost per unit of energy. Higher lifetime generation can reduce LCOE when it outweighs the extra tracker and O&M cost.
A wider generation window. More power in the morning and late afternoon.
Stronger bifacial performance. Tracking helps bifacial modules capture more reflected light from the ground.
What Are the Limitations of Solar Trackers?
Higher capital cost for structures, drives, controls and related infrastructure.
More maintenance, because moving mechanical and electrical parts wear over time.
Terrain constraints, as steep or uneven land raises civil and structural costs.
Wind and weather design, which requires sound engineering and reliable stow behaviour.
Limited rooftop use, because of weight, structural, space and wind constraints.
More detailed engineering than a simple fixed-tilt structure.
What Affects Solar Tracker Cost?
There is no single solar tracker price for every project. Cost depends on tracker type, project capacity, terrain, foundations, wind conditions, module configuration, row layout, controls and local supply chains. Single-axis trackers involve more components and engineering than fixed-tilt mounting, and dual-axis systems more still.
For a utility-scale project, evaluate tracker economics through a complete project model that covers:
Additional annual energy generation
Tracker supply and installation cost
Civil and foundation requirements
O&M requirements
Land availability and preparation
Wind and terrain conditions
Electricity tariff or power purchase agreement
Module technology
Project lifetime and financing assumptions
When Should You Use a Solar Tracker?
Use a solar tracker for large ground-mounted projects where the extra energy justifies the added structural, mechanical and O&M cost.
A tracker is worth evaluating when a project has:
Strong direct sunlight
Large, suitable ground-mounted land
Relatively flat, uniform terrain
Bifacial modules
A tariff or load profile that rewards morning and afternoon generation
A financial model that supports the extra tracker investment
Fixed-tilt systems remain the better choice for rooftops, smaller systems, constrained sites and difficult terrain.
Where Do Solar Trackers Make the Most Sense in India?
Solar trackers make the most sense in India's high-sunlight states with large, flat land parcels. Rajasthan, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh lead tracker demand, driven by their large solar park programmes.
Trackers are a strong fit for:
Utility-scale solar power parks on suitable ground-mounted sites.
Projects where the tariff structure rewards morning and afternoon production.
Sites using bifacial modules on reflective ground.
Hybrid power parks where solar, wind and storage work together.
Fixed-tilt structures remain suitable for industrial rooftops, smaller commercial systems and sites with difficult terrain.
If you are evaluating overall system architecture, our guide on grid-connected vs off-grid solar systems gives useful context. To see how large solar zones are being planned at scale, read about the future of mega solar parks in India by 2030.
Solar Trackers and Bifacial Modules: A Powerful Pairing
Bifacial modules generate electricity from both their front and rear sides. Single-axis tracking lifts and angles the modules in a way that helps the rear side capture more light reflected from the ground.
NREL research found that bifacial modules on single-axis trackers add 4 to 15% more energy, averaging 9% globally, on top of the gain from tracking itself. The exact gain depends on ground reflectivity, module height, row spacing and shading.
This is why bifacial technology sits at the heart of NECON's utility-scale and hybrid solar work. NECON manufactures N-type TOPCon bifacial modules from 560 Wp to 590 Wp with 22.80% rated efficiency, built for utility-scale and hybrid power parks. Their rear-side energy gain, thermal stability and low degradation suit the high-yield, large-scale projects where trackers are most often used.
Learn more about how we build these modules in our article on in-house solar panel manufacturing at NECON.
How NECON Approaches Solar Project Design
At NECON, we treat solar performance as a complete system, not a single component. Choosing between fixed-tilt and tracking structures is one of the most important early engineering decisions for a ground-mounted project. It shapes energy yield, land use, structural design, O&M planning and long-term project economics.
As an end-to-end EPC partner, NECON designs, procures and builds renewable energy systems, then keeps them performing through dedicated O&M. Our engineering approach connects solar generation with vertical axis wind turbines and battery energy storage systems for reliable, round-the-clock renewable energy.
Explore our R&D and capabilities on the Innovation and Technologies page.
Solar Tracker Terms You Should Know
Single-axis tracker: a tracker that rotates around one axis to follow the sun's daily east-to-west movement.
Dual-axis tracker: a tracker that adjusts panels around two axes to follow both daily and seasonal sun movement.
Torque tube: the steel beam that carries rotation along a tracker row.
Stow position: a protective panel position used during high winds or storms.
Bifacial module: a solar module that generates electricity from light on both its front and rear sides.
Albedo: how much sunlight the ground reflects. Higher albedo means more rear-side gain for bifacial modules.
LCOE: levelised cost of electricity, the average lifetime cost of each unit of electricity generated.
O&M: operations and maintenance, the work that keeps a solar project running reliably.
Solar Tracking: Higher Energy Yield, Smarter Project Economics
A solar tracker increases the energy output of a ground-mounted solar project by turning panels to follow the sun. Single-axis trackers typically deliver 15 to 25% more energy than fixed-tilt systems, which is why they are the standard choice for large solar power parks. Paired with bifacial modules, the gain grows further.
These benefits must be weighed against tracker cost, terrain, wind conditions, maintenance and project economics. The right choice between fixed-tilt and tracking always comes from site-specific engineering and financial analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a solar tracker?
A solar tracker is a moving stand for solar panels. It turns the panels during the day so they follow the sun and capture more sunlight than panels fixed in one position.
How much more energy does a solar tracker produce?
Single-axis trackers typically produce 15 to 25% more energy per year than fixed-tilt systems, according to NREL research. The actual gain varies by location, tracker design, terrain, module technology and operating strategy.
What is the difference between single-axis and dual-axis solar trackers?
A single-axis tracker moves panels around one axis, following the sun from east to west. A dual-axis tracker also changes the panel tilt to follow the sun's seasonal height. Dual-axis systems capture more energy but cost more and are more complex.
Are solar trackers worth it?
Solar trackers are usually worth it for large ground-mounted solar projects in sunny regions with flat land, where the extra energy outweighs the added cost and maintenance. For rooftops, small projects or difficult terrain, fixed-tilt systems usually give better value.
Can solar trackers be used on rooftops?
Rooftop trackers are uncommon. Structural loading, limited space, wind exposure and maintenance access make fixed-tilt mounting the practical choice for most rooftops.
Do solar trackers need a lot of maintenance?
Trackers need more maintenance than fixed-tilt systems because they have motors, bearings, drives and controllers. Planned O&M, remote monitoring and periodic inspections keep them running reliably.
What happens to solar trackers during storms?
Modern trackers monitor wind speed and move panels into a flat, protective stow position when winds reach a set threshold. This reduces wind load and protects the structure.
Do solar trackers work with bifacial solar panels?
Yes. Single-axis trackers and bifacial modules work very well together. NREL research found bifacial modules on single-axis trackers add 4 to 15% more energy, averaging 9%, depending on ground reflectivity, module height and row spacing.
When are fixed-tilt solar panels better than trackers?
Fixed-tilt systems are better for rooftops, small installations, uneven or constrained sites, and projects where lower upfront cost and simplicity matter most.
Planning a solar power park or hybrid energy project? Talk to the NECON team to design a system built for high yield, reliability and long-term performance.
Sources
Pelaez, Deline, Greenberg, Stein and Kostuk, Model and Validation of Single-Axis Tracking with Bifacial PV, IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 2019 (NREL, Sandia National Laboratories, University of Arizona)
IMARC Group, India Solar Tracker Market Report
