Portasol Solar Tracker continuously faces the sun

Although solar panels are becoming more and more efficient, one of the most glaring oversights in solar technology has been the inability for panels to autonomously move along with the sun and maximize the energy it could take in. The Portasol Tracker, however, is aiming to change all that, as a market-ready rendition is finally set after seven years of testing. The Hydrasolar panel utilizes hydraulic motors along with sophisticated "passive solar trackers to affect the thermal expansion and contraction of a contained liquid to make the device rotate." Essentially, the movement of the liquid causes the panel to spin to the west along with the sun as the day passes on, ensuring that the maximum amount of energy is garnered during those precious daylight hours. Currently, a small selection of models and mounting options are becoming available, and while hard pricing doesn't yet seem to be available, feel free to hit the links below for a smattering of pics and even a quick video overview.

[Via MAKE]

[Dave Newton @ Apr 15th 2007 9:17AM]

Whahuh?

Trackers have existed for *years* including passive trackers.

It's far cheaper and reliable to add one or two additional panels.

[t-bone @ Apr 15th 2007 12:39PM]

My School of Engineering has building solar panels that face the sun as a project in one of the classes. One of my neighbors has panels that move to face the sun. This isn't new at all.

[StevO @ Apr 15th 2007 10:34AM]

Funny how tiny flowers can do this and it takes humans years of money and effort to make a basic replica.

[Peter @ Apr 15th 2007 1:13PM]

It took flowers many millennial to be able to do that, so we are quite faster!

[alex @ Apr 15th 2007 10:35AM]

Heavier legs or if it came with sand bags would've been nice. A good gust of wind would make this a very expensive wind sail.

[strider_mt2k @ Apr 15th 2007 10:53AM]

Alex makes a good point.
I wonder how the mechanisms hold up under wind-induced stresses over time?

One thing for "active" tracking: You can build 'em more robust.

[Karl @ Apr 15th 2007 12:16PM]

Are there any statistics showing the increase in energy output due to the tracker?

Considering it's been in testing for 7 years, I expect there is. And there surely is one somewhere in the linked article, but shouldn't that information important for the engadget summary? I'm trying not to sound like a typical troll that you find around here, but that sort of vital information should make the engadget summary.

Or, if it isn't available, that should also be said. It's important either way.

[Jeff L. @ Apr 15th 2007 1:39PM]

well the article says, "40% to 150% increase can be obtained depending on location and season. "

I imagine the increase is greater than the energy used to run the system itself. If thats the case it seems like a handy device. I know it isn't new, but it is still nice to see people working on solar panel technology.

[AtomicCactus @ Apr 15th 2007 5:49PM]

The hydraulic system is indeed very reminiscent of plants. With plants, the auxin hormone naturally builds up on the dark side of the plant, which increases the permeability of the cells so that it takes in more water and causes the cell to expand. This expansion on the dark side of the plant causes the plant to tilt into the direction of the sun.

It seems as though many "innovations" copy nature. Ah, the joys of biochemistry...

[BloodFalcon @ Apr 15th 2007 7:10PM]

Solar power is only good for satellites or space stations.

The answer for land-based clean energy is NUCLEAR POWER. More specifically FUSION. We need to develop Fusion reactors.

[Andrew H. @ Apr 15th 2007 8:56PM]

ok ... now make it ten times smaller and many times more powerful so i spend my summer outdoors playing doom on my laptop

[OzDJ @ Apr 16th 2007 6:24AM]

Here's some further information on this product, which was profiled on the Aussie TV show The New Inventors:

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1881905.htm

[Alex Mills @ Apr 16th 2007 7:55AM]

wow this is old, I live in Australia in an area that has category 4 cyclones, we have had these hydraulic trackers for close to ten years now with no problems. We also have GPS and electric-gradient trackers so whats taking the US so long to catch up?

[Alex @ Apr 16th 2007 10:35AM]

I disagree with BloodFalcon. There is a nearly infinite supply of solar power available to us this very minute. We waste virtually all of it every day by not harnessing and collecting that solar energy. In the upcoming years I think we will see solar energy use become a lot more common.

You can see news and trends on solar energy adoption at:
http://www.solarenergyinvesting.com

[drmauro @ May 25th 2007 6:50AM]

I think that there are better solutions... it's not true that is better to add few more solar panels! did you think to campers and caravans? they can't do this!

here I found some better ways:

www.portable-solartracker.com

they seem to have a kind of solar tracker more compact

[Tom Bean @ May 25th 2007 2:12PM]

Just a little behind the times, I'm afraid. For the future of passive tracking, see the link:
http://www.prismsolar.com/index.html