This work describes a new photovoltaic (PV) sun tracker design methodology that utilizes the advantages that the orientation and efficiency of the PV panel offer due to the latitude of the installation zone. Furthermore, the proposed design methodology is validated experimentally via the implementation of a solar tracker with dual axes at a specific location (27.5° latitude). In this case, the methodology enables the incorporation of a high-availability, low-accuracy, and low-cost tracking mechanism. Based on the results, the feasibility of this type of solar tracker for latitudes close to 30° is demonstrated, as this tracking system costs 27% less than the traditional commercial systems that use slew drives. This system increases the collection efficiency by 24% with respect to a fixed device. The proposed methodology, which is based on an orientation efficiency chart, can be applied to the construction or control of other types of solar tracker systems.

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This paper develops and applies a new methodology for the structural design of solar concentrators under wind loads using the method of Finite Element Analysis (FEA), in order to obtain information on the structural characteristics to guarantee that the concentrator operation works under high wind loads.This methodology is applied to design a Scheffler Type Solar Concentrator (STSC) coupled to a Stirling engine in the city of Mexicali, B.C and the numerical results of this analysis allow to establish the materials dimensions and structural characteristics of solar concentrator with reflector area of 12.4 m 2 , subjected to wind loads up to 180 km/h, showing minor structural deformations of 0.005 m and a maximum stress of 27 MPa. In relation to the suggested methodology, this was verified by the deformation measurement of the concentrator. Finally, the methodology can be extrapolated to other regions adjusting wind loads.