Solar tracking systems allow an increase in the use of solar energy for its conversion with photovoltaic technology due to the alignment with the sun. However, there is a compromise between tracking accuracy and the energy required to perform the movement action. Consequently, the wear of the tracker components increases, reducing its useful lifetime and affecting the profitability of these systems. The present research develops a novel tracking strategy based on real-time measurements to increase the lifetime without reducing the energy productivity of the tracking systems. The proposed approach is verified experimentally by implementing the real-time decision-making algorithm and a conventional tracking algorithm in identical tracking systems under the same weather conditions. The proposed strategy reduces energy consumption by $14.18\%$ due to the tracking action, maintaining a practically identical energy generation between both systems. The findings highlight a $53.33\%$ reduction in the movements required for tracking and a $60.77\%$ reduction in operation time, which translates into a $6.8$-fold increase in the lifetime of the solar tracking system under the experimental conditions applied. The results are promising, so this research initiates and motivates the development of more complex models to increase the useful life of the tracking systems and their profitability and environmental impact concurrently.

In recent years, the use of solar technology as an alternative to conventional methods of electricity generation has increased. However, they have a low conversion efficiency; one way to increase energy production is by using Solar Tracking Systems (STS), which cause energy expenditure. Monitoring systems are required to calculate the energy balance between produced and consumed. In this research, the design and implementation from a concurrent approach of an embedded system for energy monitoring in solar applications is presented, obtaining a low energy consumption, high connectivity, scalable, modular, and open architecture system. Experimental tests were carried out considering five proposed energy-saving strategies. These tests recorded the energy consumption of actuators, electronic hardware, and generated power, resulting in a 16.47% increase in the energy budget and a reduction in the global power consumption of 7.27%. Notably, the developed embedded system exhibited a low energy consumption of 0.326Wh.