Dual-axis solar tracking raises the irradiance collected by a photovoltaic (PV) module, but the additional solar input also raises its operating temperature. This study quantifies that electrical–thermal trade-off outdoors in Kırıkkale, Türkiye, on 12W modules logged at 5min intervals, and compares it with a passive phase change material (PCM) strategy. In Phase 1 an uncooled fixed module was compared with an uncooled dual-axis tracking module. Tracking increased the in-plane irradiation from 6.74 to 8.35kWhm−2 (+23.9%) and the delivered energy from 42.98 to 61.14Wh (+42.3%; mean power 3.54 versus 5.03W). The tracking module ran on average 6.2◦C hotter (13.5◦C hotter in the morning), although peak rear-surface temperatures were similar (62.2 versus 60.5◦C). After a cloud passage the module temperature needed about 25min to recover, peaking 20min after the irradiance maximum. A matched-condition check at equal irradiance and temperature revealed that the tracking channel delivered about 23% more power irrespective of orientation, so the irradiation gain is the conservative measure of the tracking benefit. In Phase 2 the tracking module was compared with a fixed module fitted with paraffin PCM (melting range 48–66◦C) in 18 aluminium containers. The PCM module was not cooler: it peaked at 62.9◦C against 61.0◦C and was warmer in 62% ofthe records. Because orientation and thermal treatment changed together, Phase 2 is a system-level comparison rather than an isolated test of PCM cooling, and a same-orientation control test is required.
Index Terms- Dual-axis solar tracking, passive cooling, phase change material, photovoltaic, thermal load.
