With an objective to make solar power production cheaper in the country, the corporate R&D arm of power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) is set to launch products. First in the pipeline is a new solar thermal sun tracker -- a system for tracking the sun to produce increased power output from the solar panels mounted on it.    

GM of BHEL’s corporate R&D Division S Sekar said that the PSU is preparing to commercially launch this product in the next six to eight months. The prototype has shown that the tracking system can generate 25-35 per cent additional energy when compared to the conventional modules mounted on the fixed structures.    

The operation of the sun tracker is based on simple liquid balancing system. Hence, there are no motors, gears and control system for the operation. The R&D wing is investing over Rs 1,300 crore in developing new products in the current fiscal against Rs 1,248 crore last year, he added.