The Solar Tracker

Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Overview of innovation

The Solar Tracker has been developed at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. It is an efficient mechanism for positioning a solar collector to track the sun. This device is adept to intermittent adjustment of the position of a solar energy collection surface, ensuring that the surface directly faces the sun at pre-programmed times. The solar tracker affords the opportunity of increased quantity of electrical energy generated by photovoltaic panels and enables the operation of water de-salinators and water stills for longer daily periods. The novel bladder flow-controlled solar tracker is driven by gravity. This provides a major advantage over competing technologies that consume energy.
 

Benefits
• The solar tracker does not require electrical power for rotating/turning the solar collector
• The device can be deployed to control the movement of small domestic solar applications
• A separate tracker is available for the Northern and Southern hemispheres without the need for adjustments
 

Offering 
We are seeking a licensee who would like to license and commercialise the technology.

Type of Intellectual Property protection
Patent
Innovation Opportunity Type
Licensing
Industry
​Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
Electricty, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 5 – Prototype tested in a controlled environment