What is a Single-Axis Solar Tracker? Explore Working, Types, Benefits, and Drawbacks

A single-axis solar tracker (SAT) is a mechanical device or an advanced mounting system that rotates solar panels along one axis to follow the sun’s path daily from east to west. Since they make panels follow the sun’s direction throughout the day, the panels are able to capture more sunlight and produce more electricity. Usually, single-axis solar tracking systems can increase the energy generation by 25-30% when compared to fixed solar panels. 

While these axis trackers are quite popular in large-scale solar farms as they increase the energy production of solar systems, solar trackers, whether they’re single-axis or dual-axis, are usually not recommended for rooftop solar panels for homes because moving parts cost more and need upkeep. The gains from single-axis trackers aren’t worth the increase in the solar system installation cost for residential customers. 

The single-axis solar PV tracker market is currently valued at USD 33.6 billion globally in 2025. Considering how beneficial these axis trackers can be for utility-scale solar installations, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% annually, reaching USD 66.8 billion by 2035. The main types of single-axis solar trackers include:

• Horizontal single-axis trackers (HSAT) for utility-scale projects.
• Vertical single-axis trackers (VSAT) for high-latitude locations.
• Tilted single-axis trackers (TSAT) for enhanced performance.

In this blog, we have explained what single-axis solar tracking systems are, how they work, their types, advantages, disadvantages, and applications. We have also explained how single-axis solar trackers differ from dual-axis trackers, and why you don’t require any solar tracker when installing rooftop solar for housing societies and homes.

TL;DR Summary Box: How efficient Are Single-Axis Solar Trackers?

Single-axis trackers are 25-30% more efficient than fixed solar panels. It simply means that mounting single-axis solar tracking systems can increase the energy production by 25-30%. 

Since they can increase the cost of setting up a solar cell power plant by 15-20%, these axis trackers are used only for ground-mounted solar systems and utility-scale solar installations, where land availability and return on investment justify the additional cost and complexity. If you’re looking to install them with rooftop on-grid solar systems for homes, they won’t offer the return on investment that can justify the additional cost. 

Here are the main topics covered in this blog in detail:

What is a Single-Axis Solar Tracker?

A single-axis solar tracker is a mechanical device that rotates solar panels around one axis, and helps them follow the sun’s movement across the sky from sunrise to sunset. 

Unlike fixed solar energy systems, where solar panels do not move, single-axis solar tracking systems continuously adjust the orientation of the solar panels from east to west by rotating panels along a north-south oriented axis. As a result, the PV panels remain perpendicular to the sun throughout the day, reducing the angle of incidence and maximizing solar energy absorption.

Here are the main components of a single-axis tracker that work in tandem to rotate solar panels around one axis:

• Drive system: It includes electric motors or hydraulic actuators that provide rotational force to move solar panels.
• Control unit/system: This is the microprocessor-based system that manages tracking algorithms and safety protocols.
• Structural framework: These are the steel mounting rails and support structures that are designed to withstand high winds.
• Foundation system: This includes concrete piers or driven piles that provide stable ground anchoring while fitting the axis trackers to the solar panels.
• Sensor array: These are light sensors or GPS-based positioning systems used for accurate sun tracking.

One of the most important components of single-axis solar trackers is the control system. It’s this system that determines how the tracker knows where the sun is located and when to move the panels. The two primary types of control systems are chronological tracking systems and active sensor-based tracking systems.

• Chronological tracking system: It uses your site’s location, date, and time to figure out where the sun should be at each moment. Based on the data, it moves the panels along that path. It behaves the same on clear and cloudy days. Since there are no light sensors to install or clean, maintenance and upfront costs are usually lower. However, on days with fast-moving clouds, this system can miss brief sunny gaps because it sticks to the planned path.
• Active sensor-based tracking system: It uses small light sensors to spot the brightest part of the sky and points the solar panels there in real time. This helps capture extra energy on partly cloudy days as well. However, on flat, gray days, the efficiency can dwindle because a clear, bright spot might not be visible. 

How Does a Single-Axis Solar Tracking System Work?

Single-axis trackers automatically move the panels to follow the sun’s direction from morning to evening. This is an automated process that ensures solar panels maintain optimal angles for capturing maximum solar radiation.

Let’s check out all the steps that single-axis solar tracking systems follow to rotate the panels and increase energy absorption: 

• Step 1 – The control system finds out the position of the sun: The control system determines the sun’s current position using GPS coordinates, date, and time calculations. On the other hand, light sensors, if present, detect the brightest point in the sky for real-time verification.
• Step 2 – Optimal angle is calculated to tilt the panels at precise angles for maximum energy absorption: The microprocessor calculates the required panel rotation angle by comparing the sun’s current position with the panel’s orientation to minimize the angle of incidence with incoming sunlight. 
• Step 3 – The axis tracker runs a safety protocol check: Before initiating movement, the system verifies environmental conditions, including wind speed and structural limits, so that the panels and other equipment involved are not damaged while rotating. 
• Step 4 – The control unit clears rotation motion: If it’s safe for the panels to move, the control unit generates electrical signals and sends commands to the drive mechanism to rotate the panels.
• Step 5 – The motor activates: Electric motors or hydraulic actuators receive command signals and physically rotate the solar panels along the north-south axis to track the sun’s east-to-west movement.
• Step 6 – Sensors confirm that the panels have rotated correctly: Encoders and position sensors confirm that the actual panel angle matches the commanded position. It provides feedback to the control system that the angle is accurate.
• Step 7 – Continuous tracking adjustment continues throughout the day: The single-axis solar tracker continuously monitors the sun’s position and makes minor adjustments throughout the day, ensuring the solar panels remain perpendicular to the sun at all times. 
• Step 8 – Weather response protocol activates, if needed: If the wind picks up or a storm arrives, the single-axis solar tracker automatically turns the panels to a stow position that pauses their movement immediately. If the system spots any fault, it triggers an emergency stop. This protects the panels and the mounting hardware until conditions improve.
• Step 9 – Daily reset and preparation: After sunset, the tracker turns the panels back to face east and stays idle overnight. At sunrise, it starts the same steps again.

What Are the Different Types of Single-Axis Trackers?

The three main types of single-axis solar trackers are horizontal single-axis trackers, vertical single-axis trackers, and tilted single-axis trackers. The primary difference between them is their orientation axis. 

• Horizontal single-axis tracker (HSAT): This single-axis tracker is used in installations where panels are mounted on a long horizontal bar that turns slowly from east to west during the day. The bar usually runs north to south. Hence, the whole row moves together to follow the sun. Since their rotation axis is parallel to the ground, HSATs are the most common choice for utility-scale solar installations.
• Vertical single-axis tracker (VSAT): This single-axis solar tracking system rotates around a vertical axis. It turns the panels east to west through the day while the tilt stays fixed. VSATs are primarily used at higher latitudes or on constrained sites and are less common than HSATs for utility-scale projects. 
• Tilted single-axis tracker (TSAT): It’s a single-axis tracker where the rotation axis is set at a fixed tilt instead of being perfectly horizontal. The array rotates around this tilted axis to follow the sun through the day. TSATs are used when a horizontal axis isn’t ideal, such as at higher latitudes or on uneven or snowy sites, to get a better sun angle while keeping the system simpler and cheaper than dual-axis trackers.

Let’s check out how these three types of single-axis solar trackers differ from each other in detail:

What is the Difference Between Single-Axis and Dual-Axis Solar Trackers?

A single-axis solar tracker can turn panels in one direction, usually east to west. As a result, the panels follow the sun from east to west during the day. On the other hand, a dual-axis solar tracker can move in two directions. It means they can also tilt the panels up and down to match the sun’s height across seasons. While single-axis solar trackers are less efficient than dual-axis solar trackers, they’re more affordable. 

Here’s a tabulated snapshot that explains all the major differences between single-axis and dual-axis solar trackers: 

*Please note: All cost, efficiency, and payback period figures listed above are based on standard market estimates and can vary significantly based on location, solar system size, local conditions, and current market rates. SolarSquare does not sell solar trackers. We install on-grid commercial rooftop systems and on-grid rooftop PV systems for homes and housing societies. 

Should You Install Axis Trackers for On-Grid Rooftop Solar Panels at Homes?

Solar trackers aren’t worthwhile for residential on-grid rooftop solar systems because the return on investment is not worth the added cost and complexity. Single-axis solar trackers can make solar installation 15-20% more expensive, which is not worth the benefits for residential installations. 

Simply put, for homes, single-axis trackers usually aren’t worth it because they cost 15-20% more, need more care, and can strain your roof in strong winds.

Let’s explain why fixed on-grid rooftop solar systems with bifacial solar panels are the best options for homeowners and housing societies:

• The government offers a subsidy: Residential customers (homeowners and housing societies) receive a subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for installing on-grid rooftop solar systems. This subsidy will not be provided if you install off-grid solar systems or ground-mounted solar systems. 
• They reduce electricity bills by 90% or more: The electricity tariffs in India increase by 3-6 % annually. Once you install a rooftop solar system, your reliance on grid electricity will sharply decline because your system will generate free solar electricity for you. It will reduce your bills by 90% or more. Many customers eventually receive zero electricity bills after going solar.
• It’s cheaper than other solar system types: Unlike off-grid and hybrid solar systems that require a lithium battery bank to store excess solar energy generated by the panels during the day, an on-grid rooftop solar system sends excess energy produced by the panels to the grid through a bi-directional net meter. At night, when solar doesn’t generate electricity, the same net meter imports electricity to keep the load running. This process is called solar net metering. All in all, in on-grid systems, you won’t have to buy lithium batteries, which are expensive to install and replace, for backup. 
• It will save tens of lakhs of rupees: Installing fixed on-grid rooftop solar systems eliminates electricity bills, or reduces them by at least 90%. Since the system continues producing electricity for 25+ years, the money you would have otherwise spent on paying electricity bills will now be saved.

Want to see the full impact of the financial gains a fixed on-grid rooftop solar system offers? Check out the table below, comparing the cost of installing a 4 kW solar system in India with subsidy vs the money that the same solar system will save for you in 25 years of its life:

*Please note: The above-mentioned 4 kW solar plate price in India with subsidy is indicative as of 16th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The final solar system cost depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, when calculating savings, we have considered an annual tariff escalation of 3% and an annual degradation of 1%. The actual final savings from for a 4 kW solar panel system depends on the types of solar panels you’ve installed and their efficiency, intensity of sunlight your rooftop receives, orientation of the panels and tilt angle, the pollution level and weather conditions in your city, the temperature, shadow on the roof, impact of dirt/dust, and how well you maintain your panels after installation.

Couldn’t find the installation cost vs savings details in your city in the table above? You can use SolarSquare’s free solar power estimator to get an estimate now.

What are the Advantages of a Solar Tracking System?

Single-axis solar tracking systems increase energy output by 25-30% and are cheaper and easier to install and maintain than dual-axis solar trackers.

Let’s check out all the benefits of these solar tracking systems in detail:

• Higher energy production: Compared to fixed solar panels, single-axis trackers can produce about 25-30% more energy. 
• Smoother daily power curve: Instead of one big noon peak, you get a flatter but longer production window. This helps align solar panel output with demand and can reduce inverter clipping.
• Works well with bifacial modules: Solar trackers and bifacial panels pair nicely. The extra light from the back side adds further gains on top of single-axis tracking.
• Automatic safety and control: Modern axis trackers stow themselves in high winds, adjust throughout the day on their own, and can be monitored remotely.
• Cheaper and less complex than dual-axis trackers: While single-axis solar trackers increase the project cost by 15-20%, dual-axis trackers increase it by 40-60%. Also, it’s easier to maintain and install single-axis trackers as they have fewer moving parts compared to dual-axis trackers.

What are the Disadvantages of a Solar Tracking System?

Single-axis trackers introduce additional complexity and costs that must be carefully evaluated against the energy production benefits they offer. 

Let’s check out all the main disadvantages of these solar tracking systems in detail:

• Higher upfront cost: Trackers add motors, controllers, and moving parts to a solar system. All this raises capital cost by 15-20% compared to a fixed-tilt system.
• More maintenance is needed: Moving parts wear out sooner or later. You’ll need routine checks, occasional part replacements, and software updates, which will increase expense.
• Risk of downtime: If a motor, controller, or communication link fails, a whole row can stop moving and lose production until it’s fixed.
• Wind and weather limits: In high winds, the single-axis trackers stow to protect themselves, which cuts production during those periods. Stormy or extreme sites may see this more often.
• Not ideal for rooftops: On homes and most building roofs, added weight, moving parts, and maintenance outweigh the benefits. 

What are the Applications of a Single-Axis Solar Tracking System?

Single-axis solar trackers are primarily used in utility-scale solar farms, commercial and industrial ground-mounted installations, agrivoltaic projects that combine solar energy with agriculture, and specialized applications such as concentrated solar power plants.

Let’s check out the major applications of single-axis trackers in detail:

• Utility-scale solar farms: Single-axis solar trackers can be used in large solar power plants ranging from 10 MW to over 1,000 MW capacity that supply electricity directly to the grid. Here, single-axis trackers help the solar plants make more energy over more hours of the day, which, in turn, lowers the cost per unit of electricity.
• Commercial and industrial ground-mount systems: Business facilities with adequate land availability can install tracker-equipped solar systems to maximize renewable energy generation and reduce electricity costs.
• Agrivoltaic dual-use projects: These are innovative installations where solar panels and agricultural activities share the same land. With single-axis trackers, you can adjust how much shade the panels cast at different times of day: more shade during hot midday, more light in the morning and evening. This helps protect crops from heat, reduces water loss from the soil, and still leaves space to farm between the rows.
• Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants: In specialized thermal solar power plants like parabolic trough collectors that use mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight, single-axis tracking turns the long mirror rows throughout the day so sunlight stays focused on the receiver. This increases heat collection and output.

Conclusion

Single-axis solar trackers allow solar panels to rotate from east to west, following the sun’s direction throughout the day. It increases the energy output by 25-30% more than fixed solar panel installations that don’t have trackers. Despite this output gain, installing solar trackers is not recommended for rooftop solar systems at homes because they don’t just increase the output, they also increase the overall project cost by 15-20%. 

If you’re a homeowner looking to install a rooftop solar system at your home, you can book a free solar consultation call with SolarSquare.

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FAQs

Q1. What is the difference between solar panels and solar trackers?

Ans. Solar panels generate free electricity from sunlight. A solar tracker is a device that moves panels to follow the sun so the same panels can produce more energy.

Q2. What is the cost of a solar tracker?

Ans. It depends on the site, wind design, and vendor. As a rule of thumb, for large ground projects, single-axis trackers add about 15-20% to upfront cost compared to fixed-tilt solar panel systems.

Q3. What maintenance do solar axis trackers need?

Ans. Solar trackers require regular visual checks, tightening bolts, and firmware updates. The movable parts also require greasing.