A Systematic Review of Solar Tracking Systems for Photovoltaic Installations: Electrical Performance, Control Strategies, and System Integration

Solar tracking systems (STSs) are widely adopted in photovoltaic (PV) installations to increase energy yield by maintaining favorable module orientation relative to the sun’s trajectory. This paper presents a systematic review of STSs from an electrical engineering perspective, focusing on electrical performance, control strategies, and system integration aspects relevant to grid-connected PV applications. Fixed-tilt, single-axis, and dual-axis configurations are comparatively assessed in terms of output power, annual energy yield, influence on I–V and P–V characteristics, and auxiliary power consumption. The analysis emphasizes net energy gain rather than gross energy improvement. Control strategies are classified as open-loop, closed-loop, hybrid, and intelligent approaches. Their impact on tracking accuracy, actuator duty cycles, electrical stability, and coordination with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms is critically examined. A bibliographic and scientometric analysis is conducted to identify research trends, dominant themes, and existing gaps. The results indicate that single-axis tracking often provides the most favorable balance between energy gain and auxiliary consumption in utility-scale systems, while dual-axis configurations achieve higher absolute yield at increased complexity. The review highlights the need for standardized net-energy evaluation and grid-aware tracking strategies.