Tracking the Sun From Ellicott City

The shortest day of the year is behind us, and from now until the summer solstice, we’ll be seeing more sun every day. That should be good news for the county, which announced the installation of solar panel trackers at the in Ellicott City.

Columbia-based Advanced Technology & Research Corporation developed the technology, which uses a GPS-based controller to direct solar panels toward the sun throughout the day. According to ATR’s website, tracking the sun means panels can generate 30 percent more electricity – or more – than static solar panels.

“We are always looking for ways to generate more renewable energy and to promote local companies and the cutting edge technology they are developing,” County Executive Ken Ulman said in a statement.

“These panels do both those things, and are one of the many ways County government is leading by example when it comes to environmental protection.” 

“As a Howard County business, we especially appreciate County Executive Ulman’s partnership to host this first installation of our solar power tracking systems on a government complex,” ATR founder and CEO Jackson Yang said in a statement. 

“The County has been very supportive of ATR’s efforts to contribute to the area’s technology and manufacturing economy and create local jobs.”

The panels were donated to Howard County by ATR, which has also installed temporary solar tracker to power holiday lights at City Hall in Frederick.

According to ATR’s website, an individual solar tracker costs $2,095; the mount costs $1,295.

The electricity produced by the three panels in the parking lot of the George Howard Building will be fed back into the utility grid.

This article has been updated to indicate that ATR donated the solar panels to Howard County and that the tracker in Frederick was temporary.