CHAPTER - 1

INTRODUCTION

The IOT is a system of related computing devices, digital and mechanical machines, objects,
people with unique identifiers and potential transfer of data over a network without human-to-
human or human-to-computer interactions. Physical objects those are no longer disconnected
from the virtual world, but can be controlled remotely through internet services.
A smart world is nothing but smart devices, smartphones, smart cars, smart homes, and smart
cities. “Smart” objects play a key role in the vision of IOT, since embedded communication
and information technology would have the potential to revolutionize. With the growing
presence of Wi-fi and 4G-LTE wireless internet access, the evolution towards omnipresent
information and communication network is already evident. According to the International
Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy will be the fastest growing source of electricity, in
which wind and solar PV are technologically mature and economically affordable. But still
there is increase I world’s demand for energy. Adopting renewable energy technologies is one
of the advance ways of reducing the environmental impact.
Solar energy is universally available all over the world and can contribute to minimize the
dependence of energy imports. In 90 minutes enough sunlight strikes the earth to provide the
entire plant’s energy needs for one year. Solar PV leads to no greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
and other pollutants during operation. Solar has many benefits like system-friendly
deployment, improved operating strategies, advanced renewable energy forecasting and
enhanced scheduling of power plants and also investment in additional flexible resources,
comprising demand-side resources, electricity storage, grid infrastructure and flexible
generation.
Power generation is a major factor in many developing countries. Due to the improvement of
the industrial and commercial sector, energy demand reaches its peak. Hence all are poignant
towards renewable energy source to produce green energy for meeting out our energy
consumption. This can help the society to decrease greenhouse gas emission and ozone layer
depletion for future generation. Among this solar photovoltaic technique is gaining popularity
due to huge availability, reduced cost, east installation, and maintenance. Currently, IOT is an
evolving technology that makes things smarter and user friendly when connected through the
communication protocol and cloud platform. The efficiency of the solar panel is influenced by
basic parameters such as current, voltage, irradiance and temperature. Hence real time solar
monitoring system is essential for increasing the performance of the PV panel by comparing
with the experimental result to initiate preventive action. In recent years there had been a lot of
research attempts made in solar energy. A simple forecasting database is modelled using to
collect the raw data, filter un-relevant values and produce forecast without assistance of any
modern automation tools. In addition, machine intelligence techniques are used for forecasting
to obtain robust performance. Areal time supervising and data acquisition model for solar PV
module is proposed to determine the performance of different solar PV ratings. This is a
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powerful tool for exploring the operation of different PV modules with respect to real time
data. Microcontroller based displaying system is proposed to monitor the different factors that
affect the performance of PV panel. The measured parameters are evaluated with the standard
operating condition to provide necessary action for better performance of PV. A low- cost solar
panel monitoring is developed based on IOT for online visualization and improving the
performance. This helps to take preventive maintenance and tracking the fault location. Solar
power plants need to be monitored for optimum power output. This helps retrieve efficient
power output from power plants while monitoring for faulty solar panels, connections, dust
accumulated on panels lowering output and other such issues affecting solar performance. So
here we propose an automated IOT based solar power monitoring system that allows for
automated solar power monitoring from anywhere over the internet. We use Arduino based
system to monitor a 10Watt solar panel parameters. Our system constantly, monitor the solar
panel and transmit the power output to IOT system over the internet. Here we use IOT Gecko
to transmit solar power parameters over the internet to IOT Gecko server. It now displays
these parameters to the user using an effective GUI and also alerts user when the output falls
below specific limits. This makes remotely monitor of solar plants very easy and ensure best
power output.

1.1 Importance of photovoltaic energy:

Photovoltaic energy is universally available all over the world and can contribute to minimize
the dependence of energy imports. In 90 minutes enough sunlight strikes the earth to provide
the entire plant’s energy needs for one year. Solar PV leads to no greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission and other pollutants during operation. Solar has many benefits like system-friendly
deployment, improved operating strategies, advanced renewable energy forecasting and
enhanced scheduling of power plants and also investment in additional flexible resources,
comprising demand-side resources, electricity storage, grid infrastructure and flexible
generation.
The basic characteristics of a PV system are analyzed for real time measurement to study the
fault diagnosis in PV plant. A smart monitoring system is developed with a microcontroller to
gain the maximum efficiency with the use of sun trackers. A remote solar monitoring and
control system is proposed for implementation at the plant level and promotes the decisional
process for central control station which has the crucial role for the processing, storage,
warning and displaying. PV monitoring system is developed based on wire and wireless
networks to transmit the parameters to a remote- coordinators that offers a web -based
application for remote access. A practical graphical user interface is developed using Lab view
for online monitoring for solar PV.
This can help the society to decrease greenhouse gas emission and ozone layer depletion for
future generation. Among this solar photovoltaic technique is gaining popularity due to huge
availability, reduced cost, east installation, and maintenance. Currently, IOT is an evolving
technology that makes things smarter and user friendly when connected through the
communication protocol and cloud platform. The efficiency of the solar panel is influenced by
basic parameters such as current, voltage, irradiance and temperature. Hence real time solar

2
monitoring system is essential for increasing the performance of the PV panel by comparing
with the experimental result to initiate preventive action.
The use of solar power has gained widespread popularity as it is a renewable source of energy
that reduces dependency on non-renewable energy sources. With the increase in the adoption
of solar power systems, the need for monitoring and controlling the system's performance and
efficiency has become essential. This is where the Internet of Things (IoT) comes into the
picture. IoT enables the monitoring and control of devices and systems remotely. In this article,
we will discuss an IoT-based solar power monitoring system and its components. The world is
gradually transitioning towards a cleaner and greener environment, and renewable energy
sources like solar power are playing a crucial role in this transformation. Solar energy is
abundant, easily available, and doesn't produce any harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases.
However, monitoring and managing solar power systems can be a challenge, especially when
they are installed in remote or inaccessible locations. This is where the Internet of Things (IoT)
comes in, providing a solution for remote monitoring and management of solar power systems.
An IoT-based solar power monitoring system uses a network of sensors, devices, and software
applications to collect data from solar power systems and transmit it to a central location for
analysis and management. These systems provide real-time information about the performance
of solar panels, battery charge levels, and other critical parameters that impact the efficiency
and longevity of solar power systems. With this data, stakeholders can optimize their energy
production, reduce downtime, and improve system maintenance, leading to significant cost
savings and increased energy efficiency. The IoT-based solar power monitoring system
comprises different components that work together to provide an integrated solution. These
components include solar panels, batteries, sensors, communication modules, and data
analytics software. The solar panels and batteries generate and store energy, respectively, while
the sensors measure different parameters such as temperature, humidity, solar irradiance, and
battery charge levels. Communication modules like Wi-Fi, cellular, or satellite networks
transmit the data collected by the sensors to a central server, which can be accessed via a web-
based dashboard or mobile application. Data analytics software then analyzes the data,
providing insights and recommendations for improving system performance and reducing
maintenance costs.
One of the significant benefits of an IoT-based solar power monitoring system is its ability to
provide remote monitoring and control of solar power systems. This means that stakeholders
can monitor and manage their solar power systems from anywhere, at any time, using a mobile
device or computer. For example, if a solar panel malfunctions or if the battery charge level
drops below a certain threshold, the system can send alerts to stakeholders, allowing them to
take corrective action before the system fails completely. Similarly, if the system is
overproducing energy, stakeholders can use the data provided by the system to adjust their
energy consumption, leading to significant cost savings. Another benefit of IoT-based solar
power monitoring systems is that they can help optimize energy production by identifying and
correcting inefficiencies in the system. For example, if a solar panel is not aligned correctly, or
if dust or debris is blocking the panel's surface, the system can detect this and alert
stakeholders to take corrective action. Similarly, if the battery charge level is consistently low,
stakeholders can adjust the system's energy storage capacity, leading to improved energy

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production. In conclusion, an IoT-based solar power monitoring system provides a
comprehensive solution for managing and optimizing solar power systems. By collecting and
analyses data in real-time,

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stakeholders can reduce downtime, improve energy production, and save on maintenance
costs, ultimately leading to a more efficient and sustainable energy system.
An IoT-based solar power monitoring system is a modern and efficient way to monitor and
manage solar energy systems. The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnection of
various devices and sensors that can collect, store, and share data through the internet. In the
context of solar power systems, IoT devices can be used to collect real-time data on energy
production, energy consumption, battery level, and other important parameters. The use of IoT
devices in solar power systems enables remote monitoring and control, making it easier to
manage and optimize energy usage. By monitoring energy production and consumption in real-
time, users can make informed decisions about how to use energy efficiently and save costs.
Additionally, IoT devices can detect and alert users of any issues or malfunctions in the system,
allowing for quick and efficient maintenance.
Cloud platforms can be used to store and analyze the data collected by the IoT devices,
providing valuable insights into the performance of the solar power system. Mobile apps can
also be used to display the data and provide alerts and notifications when certain conditions
are met. In summary, an IoT-based solar power monitoring system can help users optimize
their energy usage, save costs, and detect issues quickly, making it an attractive option for
anyone looking to manage and monitor their solar power systems efficiently.

Fig.1. Schematic Diagram

Internet of things for solar power is an advanced solution to monitor energy and make
this information available from anywhere in the world. The technology used in this
project is a system monitor connects electronic devices, digital machines by internet.in
this project used specialist equipment for evaluate the voltage and light intensity by
using sensors to monitor solar power and then it sends the information to website after
make
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process by Arduino chip that was programmed by c language updated information of the
development system can be accessed through mobile application.

1.2 Background overview

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects devices, vehicles, buildings
and other items embedded with Electronics software sensors, and network connectivity that
enables these objects to collect and exchange data. The IoT allows objects to be sensed and
controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more
direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, and resulting in
improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit, when IoT is augmented with sensors
and actuators, the technology becomes an instance of the more general class of cyber-physical
systems, which also encompasses technologies such as smart environment grids, smart home,
intelligent transportation and smart cities, but can be controlled remotely through Internet
service .Solar energy is widely available throughout the world and can contribute to minimize
the dependence on energy imports. the system can be monitor using the current and voltage
and light value sensed by the Arduino. The result of the system is display on the lcd and web
page and phone application.

The world is gradually transitioning towards a cleaner and greener environment, and
renewable energy sources like solar power are playing a crucial role in this transformation.
Solar energy is abundant, easily available, and doesn't produce any harmful pollutants or
greenhouse gases. However, monitoring and managing solar power systems can be a
challenge, especially when they are installed in remote or inaccessible locations. This is where
the Internet of Things (IoT) comes in, providing a solution for remote monitoring and
management of solar power systems. An IoT-based solar power monitoring system is a
modern and efficient way to monitor and manage solar energy systems. The Internet of
Things (IoT) refers to the interconnection of various devices and sensors that can collect,
store, and share data through the internet. In the context of solar power systems, IoT devices
can be used to collect real-time data on energy production, energy consumption, battery level,
and other important parameters.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most important technologies of everyday life,
which helps people live and smarter. An IoT is a device, which is used to enable the
connection between machine and the cloud. This technology helps to exchange the data
between the connected devices on the available network. Through the internet, the user can
acquire the data and control the devices from any place all over the world. It is an ecosystem
which consists of web enabled gadgets that use processors, sensors and other communication
hardware devices to fetch and send the data. By using IoT we can set up machine to machine
connection or device to device connection without human interference. It also utilizes
computing facilities and software systems for information processing. The need for using IoT
technology in this solar power monitoring system is as the range of sun’s radiation is not
fixed and may vary according to the location, time and climatic conditions, the solar panels
which are exposed to the sun always need to be monitored. The solar panels can be monitored
from any location by using IoT technology.
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In today’s world, electricity is one of the most basic needs in everyone’s life. We need
electricity for heating, lighting, refrigeration, transportation systems and all the home
appliances. Day by day the energy consumption is getting rapidly increased whereas the
energy resources are decreasing in parallel. So, in order to balance the deficiency of
electricity, various sources are used to generate electricity. There are two ways available for
the generation of electricity one is by using renewable sources and the other one is by using
non-renewable sources. Non-renewable sources are such as coal, natural gas, fossil fuels
while the renewable sources can be utilized again and again such as sun , wind energy, tidal
energy. Hence, solar power is said to be an imperishable power source. Therefore, to
overcome the issues related to scarcity of electricity an IoT based solar power monitoring
system is being proposed.
Solar power has become very trendy as it is available in abundance and solar power
generation is also cheaper in the conversion technology. In this technology the light energy is
converted into electrical energy which is known as photovoltaic effect and this is called solar
energy. By using solar power, the pollution will be reduced and by monitoring it the energy
forecasting, households and communities, the productivity can also be enlarged. By
monitoring this system, we can know the status of it and also shows when there is a problem
which helpful.
The proposed system describes an IoT based solar power monitoring system. In this system
the sunlight is converted into electricity by solar cells which are present in solar panels. We
use an Arduino. Current voltage parameters are measured by using sensors. The values of
current and voltage are shown on the LCD display. An IoT device is also connected to the
sensors through which the parameters are displayed on the display can be monitored from
anywhere by using an available network.

Proposed System

The main intention of this proposed project is to get maximum power output from the solar
panels. Additionally, if there is any improper functioning of the solar panels will be shown and
also the parameters like voltage and current are monitored by using the sensors and displayed
by using the IoT technology. This model is explained by using the solar radiation i.e., sunlight
from the sun is trapped by the solar panels and then these solar panels capture sunlight and turn
into useful energy forms of energy such as heat and electricity. Then the obtained electrical
energy by the sensors such as voltage sensor sense the voltage generated by the solar panel
with the help of voltage divider principle and current is obtained by using mathematical
formulation. The designed structure of the proposed monitoring system is shown in figure 2.
The experimental arrangement of the introduced system consists of solar panels, Regulator
power supply, Wi-Fi module-ESP8266, Voltage sensor, Current sensor, LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display) and Arduino Uno microcontroller. Programming codes are developed on Arduino
IDE.

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 Fig.2 Block Diagram of IOT based solar power monitoring system

The Internet of Things has a vision in which the internet extends into the real world, which
incorporates everyday objects. The IoT allows objects to be sensed or controlled remotely
over existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for pure integration of the
physical world into computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy
and economic benefit in addition to reduced human intervention. This technology has many
applications like Solar cities, Smart villages, Micro grids and Solar Street lights and so on. As
Renewable energy grew at a rate faster than any other time in history during this period. The
proposed system refers to the online display of the power usage of solar energy as a
renewable energy. This monitoring is done through raspberry pi using flask framework. Smart
Monitoring displays daily usage of renewable energy. This helps the user to analysis of
energy usage. Analysis impacts on the renewable energy usage and electricity issues.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we connect and monitor devices, and
one area where it has significant potential is in the field of solar power monitoring. An IoT-
based solar power monitoring system leverages the power of connectivity and data analytics

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to

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monitor and optimize solar power generation in real-time, improving efficiency, reliability,
and sustainability. The system typically consists of solar panels equipped with sensors that
collect data on various parameters such as solar irradiance, panel temperature, and output
voltage. These sensors are connected to a central hub or gateway, which transmits the data to
the cloud for storage and analysis. The data is then processed and analyzed using advanced
analytics algorithms to gain insights and make informed decisions.
One of the key advantages of an IoT-based solar power monitoring system is its ability to
provide real-time monitoring and control. This allows solar power plant operators to
proactively detect and address issues such as panel degradation, shading, or equipment
failures, minimizing downtime and maximizing power generation. The system can also
provide alerts and notifications to stakeholders, enabling them to take timely action. Another
important feature of an IoT-based solar power monitoring system is its ability to collect and
analyse large volumes of data over time. This data can be used for predictive maintenance,
performance analysis, and optimization of solar power generation. By leveraging data
analytics, the system can identify patterns, trends, and anomalies that can help optimize the
performance of the solar power plant and extend the lifespan of the equipment.

Fig.3. Voltage and Current measurement on Thingspeak

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Furthermore, an IoT-based solar power monitoring system can enable remote monitoring and
management of solar power plants, reducing the need for physical visits to the site. This can lead to
significant cost savings, improved safety, and reduced carbon footprint. In conclusion, an IoT-based
solar power monitoring system has the potential to revolutionize the solar power industry by providing
real-time monitoring, data analytics, and remote management capabilities. It can improve the
efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of solar power generation, making it an attractive solution for
solar power plant operators, investors, and stakeholders.

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 CHAPTER - 2
HARDWARE COMPONENTS

2.1 Internet of Things (IOT):

The Internet of Things (IOT) is a concept in which surrounding objects are connected through wireless
network without user intervention. Owing to the recent advances in mobile devices equipped with
various sensors and communication modules, together with communication network technologies such
as Wi-Fi, the IOT has gained considerable academic interests.

The system consists of temperature, Humidity sensor and process. All these sensors can measure the
corresponding weather parameter. The system is intended to use in large residential building and
manufacturing industries. The system is including with a microcontroller to process all the operations of
sensors and other peripherals.

2.2 Arduino (Atmega328 microcontroller):

Arduino is an open-source platform used for building electronics projects. Arduino consists of both
a physical programmable circuit board (often referred to as a microcontroller) and a piece of
software, or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that runs on your computer, used to write
and upload computer code to the physical board. The Arduino platform has become quite popular
with people just starting out with electronics, and for good reason. Unlike most previous
programmable circuit boards, the Arduino does not need a separate piece of hardware (called a
programmer) in order to load new code onto the board – you can simply use a USB cable.
Additionally, the Arduino IDE uses a simplified version of C++, making Easier to learn to
program. Finally, Arduino provides a standard form factor that breaks out the functions of the
micro-controller into a more accessible package.

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 power (USB / Barrel Jack):
The USB connection is also how you will load code onto your Arduino Every Arduino board
needs a way to be connected to a power source. The Arduino UNO can be powered from a USB
cable coming from your computer or a wall power supply that is terminated in a barrel jack. In the
picture above the USB connection is labeled and the barrel jack is labeled board.
Pins (5V, 3.3V, GND, Analog, Dig Mital, PW, AREF):
The pins on your Arduino are the places where you connect wires to construct a circuit (probably in
conjunction with a breadboard and some wire. They usually have black plastic ‘headers’ that allow
you to just plug a wire right into the board. The Arduino has several different kinds of pins, each of
which is labeled on the board and used for different functions.
 GND (3): Short for ‘Ground’. There are several GND pins on the Arduino, any of which can be used to
ground your circuit.
 5V (4) & 3.3V (5): As you might guess, the 5V pin supplies 5 volts of power, and the 3.3V pin supplies
3.3 volts of power. Most of the simple components used with the Arduino run happily off of 5 or 3.3
volts.
 Analog (6): The area of pins under the ‘Analog In’ label (A0 through A5 on the UNO) are Analog In
pins. These pins can read the signal from an analog sensor (like a temperature sensor) and convert it
into a digital value that we can read.
 Digital (7): Across from the analog pins are the digital pins (0 through 13 on the UNO). These pins can
be used for both digital input (like telling if a button is pushed) and digital output (like powering an
LED).
 PWM (8): You may have noticed the tilde (~) next to some of the digital pins (3, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11 on
the UNO). These pins act as normal digital pins, but can also be used for something called Pulse-
Width Modulation (PWM). We have a tutorial on PWM, but for now, think of these pins as being able
to simulate analog output (like fading an LED in and out).
 AREF (9): Stands for Analog Reference. Most of the time you can leave this pin alone. It is sometimes
used to set an external reference voltage (between 0 and 5 Volts) as the upper limit for the analog input
pins.

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Main IC:
The black thing with all the metal legs is an IC, or Integrated Circuit. Think of it as the brains
of our Arduino. The main IC on the Arduino is slightly different from board type to board type,
but is usually from the AT Mega line of ICs from the ATMEL company. This can be important,
as you may need to know the IC type (along with your board type) before loading up a new
program from the Arduino software. This information can usually be found in writing on the top
side of the IC. If you want to know more about the difference between various IC’s, reading the
datasheets is often a good idea.

Fig 2.1 Arduino

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2.4 Voltage Sensor:
The voltage sensor is not actually something you can (or should) interact with on the Arduino. But it
is potentially useful to know that it is there and what it’s for. The voltage regulator does exactly what it
says – it controls the amount of voltage that is let into the Arduino board. Think of it as a kind of
gatekeeper; it will turn away an extra voltage that might harm the circuit. Of course, it has its limits, so
don’t hook up your Arduino to anything greater than 20 volts.

Fig. 2.2 Voltage Sensor

2.5 16*2 LCD Display:

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen is electronic display module and finds a wide range of
applications. A 16*2 LCD display is very basic module and is very commonly used in various
devices and circuits. These modules are preferred over seven segments and other multi segment
LEDs. The reasons being: LCDs are economical; easily programmable; have no displaying special
& even custom characters (unlike in seven segments), animations so on.
A 16*2 LCD means it can display 16 characters per line and there are 2 such lines. In this LCD
each character is displayed in 5*7-pixel matrix. This LCD has two registers, namely, Command
and Data. The command register stores the command instructions given to the LCD how in. A
command is an instruction given to LCD to do a predefined task like initializing it, clearing its
screen, setting the cursor position, controlling display etc. The data register stores the data to be

15
displayed on the LCD. The data is the ASCII value of the character to be displayed on the LCD.

Figure2.3 16*2 LCD Display

2.6 Current sensor:

A current sensor is a device that detects electric current in a wire, and generates a signal
proportional to that current. The generated signal could be analog voltage or current or even a
digital output. The generated signal can be then used to display the measured current in an
ammeter, or can be stored for further analysis in a data acquisition system, or can be used for the
purpose of control.

Three technologies for measuring current:

in the industrial and railway sectors, where the tendency for all players is towards higher
performance, ABB current and voltage sensors provide competitive and adapted solutions. To
meet your requirements, they draw on all their qualities to give you the advantage. Resulting
from a totally electronic technology, they integrate the latest innovations. More compact, they
allow for the optimum reduction in equipment dimensions. Made from high technology material,
ABB sensors offer exceptional thermal performance, a stronger mechanical robustness and

16
generally excellent resistance to harsh external conditions. These products conform to ecological,
security and strict quality standards.

Closed loop:

Current sensors based on closed loop Hall effect technology are electronic trans- formers. They
allow for the measurement of direct, alternating and impulse currents, with galvanic insulation
between the primary and secondary circuits.
The primary current IP flowing across the sensor creates a primary magnetic flux. The magnetic
circuit channels this magnetic flux. The Hall probe placed in the air gap of the magnetic circuit
provides a voltage proportional to this flux.

Open loop:
current sensors based on open loop Hall effect technology are also electronic transformers. They
allow for the measurement of direct, alternating and impulse currents, with galvanic insulation
between the primary and secondary circuits. The primary current IP flowing across the sensor
creates a primary magnetic flux. The magnetic circuit channels this magnetic flux. The Hall
probe placed in the air gap of the magnetic circuit provides a voltage VH proportional to this
flux, which is itself proportional to the current IP to be measured.

Electronic Technology:

current sensors are based on entirely electronic technology. In contrast to closed or open loop
Hall effect technology, no magnetic circuit is used in the sensor.
They allow for the measurement of direct, alternating and impulse currents with galvanic
insulation between the primary and secondary circuits.
The primary current IP flowing across the sensor creates a primary magnetic flux. The different
Hall probes included in the sensor measures this magnetic flux. The electronic circuit conditions
and treats these signals (summation and amplification) to provide two output currents IS1 and IS2
and/or two output voltages VS1 and VS2. All the outputs are exactly proportional to the measured
primary current. The current sensor measures instantaneous values.

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 Advantages:

The main advantages of this electronic technology are as follows:

– Galvanic insulation between the primary and secondary circuits.
– Choice of output type (current or voltage, IPN or IPMAX).
– Very large current measuring range (up to 40 kA) without overheating the sensor.
– High dynamic performance.
– Low power consumption.
– Reduced weight and volume.
– Simplified mechanical fixing.

Fig 2.4 Current sensor

2.7 Solar panels:

Solar panels absorb the sunlight as a source of energy to generate electricity or heat.
A photovoltaic (PV) module is a packaged, connect assembly of typically 6x10 photovoltaic

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solar cells. Photovoltaic modules constitute the photovoltaic array of a photovoltaic system that
generates and supplies solar electricity in commercial and residential applications. Each module
is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions (STC), and typically ranges from
100 to 365 Watts (W). The efficiency of a module determines the area of a module given the
same rated output – an 8% efficient 230 W module will have twice the area of a 16% efficient
230 W module. There are a few commercially available solar modules that exceed efficiency of
22% and reportedly also exceeding 24%. A single solar module can produce only a limited
amount of power; most installations contain multiple modules. A photovoltaic system typically
includes an array of photovoltaic modules, an inverter, a battery pack for storage,
interconnection wiring, and optionally a solar tracking mechanism.

Fig.2.5 Solar Panel

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2.8 Wi-Fi module (esp32):
The ESP32 is a low-cost Wi-Fi microchip with full TCP/IP stack and microcontroller
capability produced by Shanghai-based Chinese manufacturer, Esp. resift Systems.
The chip first came to the attention of western makers in August 2014 with the ESP-01
module, made by a third-party manufacturer, Ai-Thinker. This small module allows
microcontrollers to connect to a Wi-Fi network and make simple TCP/IP connections using
Hayes-style commands. However, at the time there was almost no English-language
documentation on the chip and the commands it accepted. The very low price and the fact
that there were very few external components on the module which suggested that it could
eventually be very inexpensive in volume, attracted many hackers to explore the module,
chip, and the software on it, as well as to translate the Chinese documentation.

Fig.2.6 ESP32 WiFi Module

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 CHAPTER - 3

LITERATURE REVIEW

Background:
IoT (Internet of Things) is a technology that allows devices to communicate with each other
over the internet. IoT-based solar power monitoring systems use sensors and communication
technologies to monitor the performance of solar panels in real-time. The data collected from
these sensors is transmitted to a central server, where it is analyzed to provide insights into the
performance of the solar panel system.

Abstract:
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we monitor and control various
systems, including solar power generation. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in
using IoT-based solutions for solar power monitoring, as it offers several benefits such as real-
time data collection, remote monitoring, and advanced analytics for optimizing solar power
generation. In this literature review, we provide an overview of the existing research on IoT-
based solar power monitoring systems, focusing on their key components, functionalities, and
applications. We review the literature from various perspectives, including sensor technologies,
communication protocols, data analytics, and system architectures. We also highlight the
challenges and opportunities in implementing IoT-based solar power monitoring systems, and
discuss potential future directions for research and development in this field.

LITERATURE REVIEW:
IoT-Based Solar Panel Monitoring System: A Review (2020) this study provides a
comprehensive review of IoT-based solar panel monitoring systems. The authors discuss the
different types of sensors that can be used to monitor solar panel performance, such as
temperature sensors, irradiance sensors, and current sensors. They also discuss the different
communication technologies that can be used, such as Wi-Fi. The authors conclude that IoT-
based solar panel monitoring systems can provide valuable insights into the performance of
solar panels and can help to optimize their performance.

IoT-Based Monitoring and Control of Solar Panels (2021) this study proposes an IoT-based solar
panel monitoring and control system that uses as the central control unit. The system uses
various sensors to monitor the performance of solar panels, including temperature sensors,
voltage sensors, and current sensors. The data collected from these sensors is transmitted to the
central control unit, where it is analyzed to provide insights into the performance of the solar
panel system. The authors conclude that their proposed system can help to optimize the
performance of solar panels and reduce maintenance costs.

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An IoT-Based Solar Power Monitoring System (2019) this study proposes an IoT-based solar
power monitoring system that uses various sensors to monitor the performance of solar panels.
The system uses a Raspberry Pi as the central control unit and communicates with the sensors
using Wi-Fi. The authors conclude that their proposed system can provide valuable insights into
the performance of solar panels and can help to optimize their performance.

Development of an IoT-Based Solar Power Monitoring (2020) this study proposes an IoT-based
solar power monitoring system that uses as the communication technology. The system uses
various sensors to monitor the performance of solar panels, including temperature sensors,
irradiance sensors, and current sensors. The data collected from these sensors is transmitted to a
central server, where it is analyzed to provide insights into the performance of the solar panel
system. The authors conclude that their proposed system can help to optimize the performance
of solar panels and reduce maintenance costs.

IoT-Based Solar Power Monitoring System Using Machine Learning (2021) this study proposes
an IoT-based solar power monitoring system that uses machine learning algorithms to predict
the performance of solar panels. The system uses various sensors to monitor the performance of
solar panels, including temperature sensors, irradiance sensors, and current sensors. The data
collected from these sensors is transmitted to a central server, where it is analyzed using
machine learning algorithms to predict the performance of the solar panel system. The authors
conclude that their proposed system can provide valuable insights into the performance of solar
panels and can help to optimize their performance.

Solar power is a clean and renewable energy source that has gained significant attention in
recent years due to its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate
change. The efficient and effective monitoring of solar power generation is critical for
optimizing its performance, ensuring reliable operation, and maximizing its benefits. Traditional
solar power monitoring systems often rely on manual data collection and analysis, which can be
labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone. With the rapid advancement of IoT
technologies, there has been a growing interest in using IoT-based solutions for solar power
monitoring, as it offers several advantages, including real-time data collection, remote
monitoring, and advanced analytics for optimizing solar power generation.

In this literature review, we aim to provide an overview of the existing research on IoT-based
solar power monitoring systems. We review the literature from various perspectives, including
sensor technologies, communication protocols, data analytics, and system architectures. We also
highlight the challenges and opportunities in implementing IoT-based solar power monitoring
systems, and discuss potential future directions for research and development in this field.

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2. Sensor Technologies for Solar Power Monitoring
Sensors play a critical role in IoT-based solar power monitoring systems, as they are responsible
for collecting data on various parameters related to solar power generation. Different types of
sensors can be used depending on the specific application and requirements of the monitoring
system. In this section, we review the literature on sensor technologies for solar power
monitoring.

2.1. Solar Radiation Sensors

Solar radiation sensors are used to measure the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth's
surface. They are typically based on different principles, such as pyranometers, pyrheliometers,
and photovoltaic (PV) cells. Pyranometers measure the total solar radiation, including both
direct and diffuse radiation, while pyrheliometers measure only the direct normal radiation. PV
cells, on the other hand, are used to measure the solar radiation that can be converted into
electrical power by a PV module.

Several studies have proposed the use of solar radiation sensors in IoT-based solar power
monitoring systems. For example, W. Zhou (2017) developed an IoT-based solar power
monitoring system that used pyranometers and pyrheliometers to measure the solar radiation
and estimate the performance of PV modules. They proposed a data fusion algorithm to
integrate the data from multiple sensors and improve the accuracy of the solar radiation
measurement. Another study by N. Kumar (2018) proposed a solar power monitoring system
that used a combination of PV cells and temperature sensors to estimate the performance of a
PV system. They used the data from the sensors to calculate the instantaneous power output,
energy yield, and performance ratio of the PV system, and transmitted the data to a cloud-based
platform for further analysis.

2.2. Temperature Sensors

Temperature sensors are used to measure the temperature of various components in a solar
power generation system, including PV modules, inverters, and batteries.

23
Abhishek Parikh (2015) presented continuous monitoring the condition and detecting the faults
to ensure the stable power delivery of Solar panel in remote area is our contribution in this
paper, this work is part of project. I am working on this project at Optimized Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
as a part of curriculum activity in my final year project at Maharaja Sayajirao University. This
paper describes the hardware and software implementation for fault detection and continuous
monitoring system for solar panel in remote area. This research problem has been stated by
engineers working in Solar panel maintenance system. As proposed solution to this wireless
sensor node is provided with Voltage sensor, Current sensor, Light sensor, Temperature sensor
and Dust sensor and XBeeS2 to implement WSN. Data are being continuously stored and
monitored at central station called HUB and through that data are being sent to server via
Ethernet. A friendly GUI using Python is implemented to visualize monitoring process and save
data on Excel file. The designed system is built and satisfactory results has been obtained.

K.G. Srinivasan (2016) proposed the Internet of Things has a vision in which the internet
extends into the real world, which incorporates everyday objects. The IoT allows objects to be
sensed or controlled remotely over existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for
pure integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, and resulting in improved
efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit in addition to reduced human intervention. This
technology has many applications like Solar cities, Smart villages, Micro grids and Solar Street
lights and so on. As Renewable energy grew at a rate faster than any other time in history during
this period. The proposed system refers to the online display of the power usage of solar energy
as a renewable energy. This monitoring is done through raspberry pi using flask framework.
Smart Monitoring displays daily usage of renewable energy. This helps the user to analysis of
energy usage. Analysis impacts on the renewable energy usage and electricity issues.

R. Vignesh (2016) presented that in advanced growing technologies IoT leads the work faster
and smarter to implement. Each and every solar photovoltaic cell of a solar panel needs to
monitor to know its current status as for this is concern monitoring as well as detecting in case
of defect in solar cells of a panel and implement corrective measures to work in a good
condition.

Mayuri Ejgar (2017) proposed that in the recent years, we have seen a rapid increase in
installation of solar plants worldwide. The overall energy generation and performance of solar
plants depends upon effective and timely maintenance of different devices such as strings of
solar panels, inverters and transformers. These devices can degrade over time or due to specific
malfunctioning in the equipment. Energy production at the plant is not only affected by internal
factors but also due to external factors such as dust, irradiation, module temperature etc. In this
paper, we present a system to identify various malfunctioning and possible breakdowns of such
devices based on real-time monitoring and various real-time anomaly detection techniques.
Once the anomaly is detected, it is immediately informed to the appropriate service engineers
for timely action. It helps in providing increased plant performance and efficiency for the solar
plants.

Manish Katyarmal (2018) presented using the Internet of Things Technology for supervising
solar power generation can greatly enhance the performance, monitoring and maintenance of the
plant. With advancement of technologies the cost of renewable energy equipment is going down

24
globally encouraging large scale solar plant installations. This massive scale of solar system
deployment requires sophisticated systems for automation of the plant monitoring remotely
using web based interfaces as majority of them are installed in inaccessible locations and thus
unable to be monitored from a dedicated location. The Project is based on implementation of
new cost-effective methodology based on IoT to remotely monitoring a solar plant for
performance evaluation. This will facilitate preventive maintenance, fault detection of the plant
in addition to real time monitoring.

Dr. Lavanya Dhanesh (2019) proposed a method for remote monitoring and analyzing of
Photovoltaic panels using Internet of Things. Photo Voltaic Panel is a device which converts
light energy into electricity. The proposed design is used for remote monitoring based on current
and Voltage measurement. The transmission among the Photo Voltaic Panels and server is
performed by internet of things. The current and Voltage data are processed by micro controller
unit. The measured data are transferred to hosting server using wireless transmission. At first,
the light energy from Photo Voltaic cell is converted into electricity power. Then measuring the
current and voltage using sensor. In this real time monitoring systems in photo voltaic Power
generation are very important and urgent in some cases. This paper proposes a real time
monitoring system for solar panel using the Arduino which is connected with voltage sensor,
current sensor and temperature sensor. The Arduino also connects with the Wi-Fi module as a
connection to the smart phone to display the measurements of current, Voltage and power of
solar panel and Ambient temperatures through the Blynk App. The system is tested for 7 days
starting at 8 am to 4 pm. The designed monitoring system as a good degree of accuracy with an
average error rate of monitoring results of solar panel output value below 10%. Monitoring the
performance of solar panels using a smart phone based micro controller can be done in real
time. The monitoring system can be developed for the larger PV systems.

Shailesh Saraswat (2019) presented a system design to monitor real-time Solar Photovoltaic
System (SPV) parameters using the Internet of Thing (IoT) technology. Some essential
parameters of an SPV system such as Voltage, Current, and panel temperature is being sensed
using sensors. While the most crucial parameter power of the SPV is computed. These
parameters are transferred over the cloud with the help of node MCU Esp8266. An android
application fetches the cloud data. For this, a complete application is developed on android
studio for mobile application for real-time monitoring the PV panel output Voltage, Current,
Power and Temperature. The system is tested in the laboratory to monitor the SPV parameter.

V.Kavitha (2019) proposed renewable energy sources are proven to be reliable and accepted as
the best alternative for fulfilling our increasing energy needs. Solar photovoltaic energy is the
emerging and enticing clean technologies with zero carbon emission in today's world. To
harness the solar power generation, it is indeed necessary to pay serious attention to its
maintenance as well as application. The IoT based solar energy monitoring system is proposed
to collect and analyzes the solar energy parameters to predict the performance for ensuring
stable power generation. The main advantage of the system is to determine optimal performance
for better maintenance of solar PV (photovoltaic). The prime target of PV monitoring system is
to offer a cost-effective solution, which incessantly displays remote energy yields and its
performance either on the computer or through smart phones. The proposed system is tested
with a solar module of 125- watts to monitor string voltage, string current, temperature, and
irradiance. This PV monitoring system is developed by a smart Wi-Fi enabled CC3200
microcontroller with latest embedded ARM processor that communicates and uploads the data
25
in cloud platform with the Blynk application. Also, the Wireless monitoring system maximizes
the operational reliability of a PV system with minimum system cost.

Vishal S. Patil (2019) proposed the solar power monitoring system is used the Internet of Things
for the purpose, to overcome the drawbacks of previous solar systems. An IoT is a joint network
of the connected devices together and shares the data about how they are used in the
environment in which they are operated. The solar power monitoring system is used for
generating the electricity by using the energy of sunlight. This system is using the Arduino Uno
for enhancement of the solar systems. This solar power monitoring system uses the Arduino
Uno. The Arduino Uno is microcontroller board, this microcontroller used the ATmega328p.
ATmega328p is also a microcontroller chip which is developed by Atmel. By using Arduino
Uno, the solar panel is capable of moving in the direction where sunlight is moves, this is the
additional feature of this solar system. This paper shows the working, architecture and
connections of the solar power monitoring system using an IoT.

Vidyalakshmi (2020) proposed internet of things is used in generation of solar power to improve
the function, monitoring, performance and maintenance of solar power plant. The method for
the solution to monitor the dust present on the solar panels to observe the maximum power.
Always the output power of the solar panel is depended on the radiation observed by the solar
cell. It monitors the panel loads by using the IoT technologies the data which are received from
the panels and appliance are send to the cloud through the internet for the future use. It is also
helping the remote users to monitor the solar power plant. The user can get the information
about current and previous average parameter like voltage, temperature, current and sunlight
using graphical user interface. This will facilitate fault detection and preventive maintenance of
solar power plant.

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 CHAPTER - 4

WORKING

The real-time solar energy monitoring system is proposed based on the three-layer architecture
of Internet of Things (IoT). The lower layer contains sensing and actuating devices like sensors,
actuators, RFID, camera, and controllers since it is a combination of sensing and processing
layer. The next layer is a middle layer which encompasses network layer with wired and
wireless network like LAN, Bluetooth, Zigbee, 4G, Wi-Fi etc., act as a gateway to route the
packets (data) to the transport layer that contains TCP/IP, UDP, for further transmission of data
to the upper end. The final stage is the application layer deliver user interface and cloud
platform for remote access.
The block diagram of IoT based solar monitoring system is shown in Fig.1.This illustrates the
outline of our proposed work. Poly Crystalline silicon of 5-watt solar panel is used for a
monitoring system. The voltage and current sensors are used to measure the respective voltage
and current from the panel. The temperature sensor is placed on the solar PV module to measure
the current temperature which greatly affects the efficiency of the solar panel. Pyranometer is an
instrument to measure the amount of solar irradiance in a planar surface in terms of W/m2. The
Microcontroller plays a pivotal role in handling the measured data for processing and forwards
the data to the cloud platform through Wi-Fi module for concurrent observation and decision
making. Real-time Solar Energy Monitoring System Computer Mobile Power supply App
Sensors Actuator Controllers Lower Layer Sensing & Processing unit Middle layer Network
&Transport layer Wi-Fi Bluetooth TCP/IP Cloud Serial Monitor CC3200 Microcontroller
Temperature sensor Pyranometer Voltage sensor Solar panel Current sensor App Blynk Web
server Upper layer Application layer Cloud platform.

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 Fig.4.1 Block diagram of IOT based solar power monitoring system

4.1. Lower Layer

The sensing units are Voltage sensor, ACS 712 current sensor, pyranometer and temperature
sensor. A voltage sensor is a divider circuit that can measure the voltage drop through series
resistance. This circuit is useful for measuring voltage above 5 volts. The voltage is calculated
based on the resistance factor and reference voltage. The expression for calculating voltage is
Voltage = (Analog value / Resistance Factor) * Reference Voltage
Resistance factor is calculated with the value of series resistance R1 and R2.A current sensor
used for measuring solar PV panel is the ACS712 Hall Effect sensor, which can measure up to
20 Amps. This can be effective to measure both DC and AC current. Hall effect sensor connects
with the microcontroller through three terminals Analog input, power supply, and ground. It
shows high precision for measuring the solar radiance in a plane surface due to direct and

28
diffused solar radiation. The high-quality optical domes help to reduce the directional error less
than 10 W/m2.

4.2. Middle Layer

In the middle layer, the smart controller processes the sensed data and transmits the information
through Wi-Fi protocol which acts as a gateway to communicate with the upper end. The
communication protocol like TCP/IP, provides standard rules to ensure secure data transmission
to the application layer.

4.3. Upper Layer

The Final layer is the application layer which can store the real-time data in a cloud platform for
easier access, data visualization, and right decision making. This proposed work facilitates a
cloud-based mobile application; Blynk is used for tracking the operation of solar PV in real-
time. Blynk is a free source cloud platform offers user-friendly IoT application. We can develop
a secure scalable and fast application with pre-designed elements to view the data virtually. It
supports many hardware platforms and connectivity types for deploying any number of devices
online. It gives a continuous solution for the remote application which saves time and resources
with the very low cost. Computer Science & Information Technology (CS & IT) The block
diagram of IoT based solar monitoring system is shown in fig.4.1. This illustrates the outline of
our proposed work. Poly Crystalline silicon of 5-watt solar panel is used for a monitoring
system. The voltage and current sensors are used to measure the respective voltage and current
from the panel. The temperature sensor is placed on the solar PV module to measure the current
temperature which greatly affects the efficiency of the solar panel. The Microcontroller plays a
pivotal role in handling the measured data for processing and forwards the data to the cloud
platform through Wi-Fi module for concurrent observation and decision making. Real-time
Solar Energy Monitoring System Computer Mobile Power supply App Sensors Actuator
Controllers Lower Layer Sensing & Processing unit Middle layer Network &Transport layer
Wi-Fi Bluetooth TCP/IP platform.

29
 Fig. 4.2 Working model of IOT based solar power monitoring system

4.4 What is being monitored?

Monitoring systems provide a wealth of information about the performance of a solar system.
Sensors can help monitor external conditions such as:

 Wind speed
 Radiance of the sun
 Temperature
 Cell temperature
 Humidity
 Current

They also measure elements surrounding system performance, such as:

 String voltage
 Inverter performance
30
 Actual vs. modelled energy production
 System output (the AC electric energy)
 Battery voltage levels to determine battery health

For the current status of the solar panel to be sensed, the sensors are used, that is the current is
sensed, using the current sensor. The solar panel is rotated by the DC Motor, using the DC Servo
Motor relying, with the goal that the panel gets the maximum sunlight at every moment. To the
motor, relay serves as the driver. To the sensor, and the relay, the controller is wired. the
analogue signal from the sensor acts as controller’s input and the relay is supplied with the
output signal, based on the input from LDR and parameters of the solar panel like power and
voltage generated which are calculated from the sensor’s current signal are displayed on the
LCD. An interface is shared across the controller and the cloud server utilizing the Wi-Fi
module, subsequently the panel parameters like voltage, current and power generated are
transferred to the server. Along these lines, the ongoing status of the panel can be viewed
remotely. It can be compared and analysed, as the parameters of the panel are stored in the
server every hour and every day. Data from the different solar panels is integrated by Internet of
Things platform and applies analytics to share the most significant data with applications made
to address specific requirements.

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 ARCHITECTURE

The use of solar system is increased in the last two years. The objective of this system is to
Power of the system can be monitor using the current and voltage value sensed by the arduino.
This system helps to implement in solar system for efficient usage. The electricity generated by
capturing the sun light is called as solar energy which is used for business and home purpose.
The atoms lose the electrons when the photons hit the solar cells. A solar panel is made of
multiple panels that wired together, more electricity is generated by the more panels we deploy.
Silicon like semiconductors are used to make the PV photovoltaic solar panels as shown in
figure. Direct Current is generated by the solar panels. Most of the electrical appliance works on
AC supply can AC can be less expensive for transmit to long distances. System Design Battery
is useful for the electrical appliances. Battery is connected to the Arduino. Arduino is a micro
controller which is used in the solar system.

Arduino

Arduino Uno is the microcontroller board. The solar energy is the renewable energy which is
generated by sunlight. The sun is the main source of the solar system. The solar system uses the
solar panels, which are used to generate the electricity. The solar panels are made up of pure
silicon by creating some reactions on the carbon, silicon and hydrogen. Firstly, to generate the
pure silicon it means that to generate the polycrystalin the carbon is added to the silicon and it
forms the gases silicon then the pure silicon means polycrystalin. Then the hydrogen is added to
that gases silicon then it forms the pure polycrystalin, then it separated in the number of plates
that plates are called as the silicon wafers.

Current and Voltage Acquisition Circuit

To protect the Arduino from short-circuits or unexpected voltage surges, we use resistor while
connect to the 5V circuit. Two resistors form a potential divider that helps to lower the voltage
being measured to a level that the Arduino can read. Fig shows the voltage divider circuit.
Analog pin of arduino gives the voltage value. Breadboard is used to build this circuit which
actually extends the range that can be used. The formula for calculating values in a potential
divider is:
Vout = [R2 / (R1 + R2)] * Vin.
Those values are used in the proposed system for calculating power. Battery is considered as the
power supply. Other pins of sensor are connecting to the Arduino.

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 CHAPTER – 5

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES:

Solar Power Monitors are getting much better, and now they are in high demand in the market.
There are many good things about these solar power monitoring machines, which have made
them very popular in the market.

Increased System Operations Awareness

This app lets you see how much solar power your solar monitor systems make. In addition, you
can find out just how well the solar inverter and panel are working while using numerous solar
panel monitoring systems. This way, you can figure out the necessary maintenance and solar
productivity rising with time. In addition, they quickly update all of the information about the
system performance in real-time.

Timely Alerts If Your Panels’ Performance Drops

Solar panels come with a minimal level system performance guarantee of 25 years when you
buy solar panels. So how do you understand if their performance ever falls below that
minimum? An excellent monitoring system can look into that for you, so you don’t have to.

Get Notified

It will be able to figure out what kind of system performance you should expect based on the
direction and angle of your roof and the weather in your area. It will tell you if it doesn’t. A
good solar system can tell you to within a few percent if your system isn’t working right. It’s a
bit more advanced than telling you if the solar monitoring system has broken down. You’re
paying a lot of money for those panels to be put in, so it makes sense to be notified if they don’t
work as well as they should.

Provides You with Peace of Mind

It would be best to keep this in mind when you use solar panels. But when you have the above
monitors and then use them correctly, you will know that the solar panels are functioning
beautifully. There is no need for you to be concerned about them.

Safety

Electrical faults could be more dangerous when our homes become power stations. The big
power plants have many separate solar systems to notify the operators of problems that could be
dangerous or costly to fix. We think that you should protect your home in the same way. A

33
sound monitoring system can find all kinds of problems, and these can be signs that something
is close to breaking down and for instance, if a fault is found in a solar panel, it could be a sign
that the panel will break down, which could cause a fire on the roof.

Energy Consumption Details

Having a monitoring system for your solar panels will help you see how much power they use.
There are a lot of newer monitors (Sense) that tell you which appliances use the most energy
and which ones don’t.

Get All The data

These newer monitors are beneficial, and you can want them for many different things. When
you pay attention to what appliances use a lot of electricity, you won’t put a lot of stress on the
solar panels, which will also help them last longer.

Energy Efficiency

Suppose you want to make your home more energy-efficient. In that case, the information a solar
panel monitoring system could give you will be beneficial. For example, suppose your “always-
on” power is the least amount of power your residence draws from the grid at night. It is the
amount of power you never use.
Here, you can find out how big your “standby loads” are, so you can find appliances that use
power even when they’re not in use. If you keep an eye on things, you can figure out which
appliances you can start using during the day so that they use solar electricity rather than just
electricity from the grid. It will help you increase your self-consumption ratio.

Remote Solar Monitoring System

A Remote Solar Panel Monitoring System can look at how much electricity is used and how
much electricity is made, look at different system’s performance parameters, and keep an eye on
the workings and progress of solar power plants installed in far-off places.
Solar inverters give you information about how well your solar project is working. Solar
monitoring solutions get that details from your solar inverters and use them to make sure your
solar project is working at its best.

Pick The Right System

Choosing the proper monitoring tools is essential when planning your solar power system. For
example, remote monitoring options that come with the inverters we chose can show how well
the system is working on a device like your cell phone, giving solar system owners the ability to
see the data from anywhere with an internet connection.
People who install solar power plants can use management platforms to make things easier. This
monitoring platform shows how much energy has been made in real-time, so the plant owner
can see how much electricity has already been used.
A cloud-based solution is available through an internet browser user interface with your PV

34
system plant data. It gives plant managers real-time, interactive access to critical effectiveness &
operations metrics, which helps them make better decisions and speed up the alignment with
business goals.

IoT Solar Monitoring System

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a new idea that could be interesting. However, it is like the
Internet-connected to the solar panel giving us a piece of automated information. There are now
many things in our lives connected to the Internet. These things include transportation and
entertainment, as well as health and retail.

DISADVANTAGES:

1. Solar trackers are slightly more expensive than their stationary counterparts, due to the more
complex technology and moving parts necessary for their operation.
2. Even with the advancements in reliability, there is generally more maintenance required than
a traditional fixed rack, though the quality of the solar tracker can play a role in how much
and how often this maintenance is needed.
3. Trackers are a more complex system than fixed racking. This means that typically more site
preparation is needed, including additional trenching for wiring and some additional
grading.
4. Single-axis tracker projects also require an additional focus on company stability and
bankability. When it comes to getting projects financed, these systems are more complex
and thus are seen as a higher risk from a financier’s viewpoint.
5. Solar trackers are generally designed for climates with little to no snow making them a more
viable solution in warmer climates. Fixed racking accommodates harsher environmental
conditions more easily than tracking systems.
6. Fixed tracking systems offer more field adjustability than single-axis tracking systems.
Fixed systems can generally accommodate up to 20% slopes in the E/W direction while
tracking systems typically offer less of a slope accommodation usually around 10% in the
N/S direction.
7. Hackers may gain access to the system and steal personal information. Since we add so
many devices to the internet, there is a risk that our information as it can be misused.
8. They rely heavily on the internet and are unable to function effectively without it.
9. With the complexity of systems, there are many ways for them to fail.
10. We lose control of our lives—our lives will be fully controlled and reliant on technology.

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FUTURE SCOPE:

In this contemporary world, electricity has become an essential part of life. With each passing
year, the power usage of every household has increased threefold as compared to the energy
resources. In order to accommodate these surging needs, people are switching to a sustainable
source i.e solar energy. Photovoltaic solar technology has become much more prominent
because of huge availability, lower costs, and quick installation. However, the energy output
continues to be a big barrier to the widespread adoption of solar power. This is why EPC
companies are on a lookout to find tools that can help mitigating the higher cost of
maintenance and regulating the power usage of solar panels. This way, they can help users
unleash the potential of a solar system in true sense and reap maximum rewards from the
installation. The basic parameters which affect the output of a solar solution are current,
voltage, irradiance and temperature. Therefore, the real-time solar output surveillance system
is essential to strengthen the effectiveness of the PV system by weighing it with the
experimental outcome to trigger preventative measures. This is where the Internet of
Things comes into play. IoT applications in clean energy generation include smart sensors that
are linked to the production, transmission and distribution devices. These instruments allow
solar investors/ commercial clients to remotely track and manage the operation of the entire
solar system in real time. It minimises the operational expenses and reduces our reliance on
fossil fuels. While some challenges do exist, they do not need to be debilitating for solar
companies. Using IoT in solar energy can solve many of these issues with little effort and
investment.
The key to success is to eliminate the complex hardware integration, certification and security
concerns and allow your businesses to seamlessly access operational data in your cloud
infrastructure and integrate it with your IT systems.
The main benefit of using IoT in solar energy is that you can see exactly what’s happening with
all your assets from one central control panel. By connecting your devices to a cloud network,
you can identify where the problem originated and dispatch a technician to fix it before it
disrupts your entire system. For instance, you may see that your network is running perfectly,
but there is a problem with one of your devices. Without IoT, it would be difficult to determine
whether the problem was network-related or hardware-related. The IoT provides the intelligence
for you to identify issues in real time, as the error occurs so the source can be located and
resolved quickly.

Using the IoT, your system will be less susceptible to outages and productivity issues (resulting
from downtime) and potentially costly security breaches. You can manage the largest solar grids
in the world, even with thousands of individual devices connected to your network.
In addition to providing companies with real-time alerts, leveraging IoT in solar energy can lead
to improvements in power quality and performance by collecting historical data for modelling.
This makes energy production more efficient both in terms of cost and logistics.
The main benefit of using IoT in solar energy is that you can see exactly what’s happening with
all your assets from one central control panel. By connecting your devices to a cloud network,
you can identify where the problem originated and dispatch a technician to fix it before it
disrupts your entire system. For instance, you may see that your network is running perfectly,
but there is a problem with one of your devices. Without IoT, it would be difficult to determine
whether the problem was network-related or hardware-related. The IoT provides the intelligence
36
for you to identify issues in real time, as the error occurs so the source can be located and
resolved quickly.

The future scope of IoT-based solar power monitoring systems is promising, with several
potential advancements in sensor technologies, communication protocols, data analytics, and
system architectures. These advancements can lead to improved performance, efficiency, and
reliability of solar power generation, as well as enable new functionalities and applications. In
this section, we discuss the potential future scope of IoT-based solar power monitoring systems.

Advancements in Sensor Technologies

Advancements in sensor technologies can significantly impact the capabilities and performance
of IoT-based solar power monitoring systems. Some potential advancements in sensor
technologies for solar power monitoring include:

Advanced solar radiation sensors: multi-spectral sensors that can measure solar
radiation across different wavelength ranges can provide more detailed and comprehensive
information about the spectral distribution of solar radiation, which can be useful for studying
the impact of different wavelengths on the performance of solar power generation systems.

Advanced temperature sensors: Temperature sensors that can measure the temperature
of various components in a solar power generation system with high accuracy and stability can
enable better monitoring and analysis of the performance and health of these components.

Advanced humidity sensors: Humidity sensors that can measure the humidity of the
ambient air and the moisture content of the solar panels can provide valuable information for
optimizing the cleaning and maintenance of solar panels, as well as predicting potential issues
related to humidity and moisture.

Advanced tilt and azimuth sensors: Tilt and azimuth sensors that can accurately
measure the tilt angle and azimuth angle of solar panels can enable more precise alignment of
solar panels to maximize solar irradiance, especially in dynamic environments with changing
sun angles.

Advancements in Communication Protocols

Communication protocols play a crucial role in IoT-based solar power monitoring systems, as
they enable the transfer of data between sensors, gateways, and cloud-based platforms for
processing and analysis. Some potential advancements in communication protocols for solar
power monitoring include:

Edge computing and fog computing: Edge computing and fog computing are
distributed computing paradigms that can enable processing and analysis of data at the edge of
the network, closer to the sensors, to reduce latency, bandwidth, and energy consumption.
Advancements in edge computing and fog computing technologies can enable real-time and
context-aware data processing and analysis in IoT-based solar power monitoring systems.

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Secure and resilient communication protocols: As IoT-based solar power monitoring
systems involve the transfer of sensitive data, such as solar radiation measurements, temperature
readings, and system configurations, ensuring the security and resilience of communication
protocols is crucial. Advancements in secure and resilient communication protocols, such as
blockchain-based protocols and lightweight encryption algorithms, can enhance the security and
resilience of data communication in IoT-based solar power monitoring systems.

Advancements in Data Analytics

Data analytics is a key component of IoT-based solar power monitoring systems, as it enables
the processing, analysis, and interpretation of data collected from sensors for optimizing solar
power generation. Some potential advancements in data analytics for solar power monitoring
include:

Advanced machine learning algorithms: Machine learning algorithms, such as

artificial neural networks, support vector machines, and random forests, can be used for
predictive modelling, anomaly detection, and optimization of solar power generation.
Advancements in machine learning algorithms, including deep learning techniques, can enable
more accurate and efficient analysis of solar power generation data, leading to improved
performance and optimization.
Advanced data fusion techniques: Data fusion techniques that combine data from
multiple sources, such as solar radiation data, temperature data, and weather data, can provide a
holistic view of the solar power generation system and enable more accurate and comprehensive
analysis. Advancements in data fusion techniques.

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 CHAPTER - 6

CONCLUSION AND REFERENCE

INTRODUCTION:
With the growing concerns over climate change and the depletion of non-renewable energy
sources, the world is increasingly turning towards renewable energy sources such as solar
power. However, to ensure that solar power systems are efficient and effective, it is important to
have a monitoring system in place. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology that is
increasingly being used to develop monitoring systems for solar power systems. This report
aims to explore the benefits of an IoT-based solar power monitoring system, the challenges
associated with its implementation, and its potential impact on the renewable energy sector.

Benefits of an IoT-based solar power monitoring system:

Increased efficiency: An IoT-based solar power monitoring system can help to increase the
efficiency of solar power systems by providing real-time monitoring of system performance.
This allows for quick identification and resolution of any issues, which can reduce downtime
and improve overall performance.

Cost savings: By providing real-time monitoring of solar power systems, an IoT-based

monitoring system can help to identify any issues that may be causing inefficiencies or
excessive energy consumption. This allows for quick resolution of these issues, which can result
in significant cost savings over time.

Improved safety: An IoT-based monitoring system can help to improve safety by providing
real-time monitoring of the solar power system. This allows for quick identification and
resolution of any safety issues, which can reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.

Remote monitoring: An IoT-based monitoring system can be accessed remotely, which

allows for real-time monitoring of solar power systems from anywhere in the world. This can be
particularly beneficial for large-scale solar power systems that are located in remote areas.

Challenges associated with implementing an IoT-based solar power

monitoring system:

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Data management: An IoT-based solar power monitoring system generates a large amount
of data, which can be challenging to manage. It is important to have a system in place to collect,
store, and analyze this data effectively.

Compatibility: An IoT-based monitoring system may not be compatible with all solar power
systems. It is important to ensure that the monitoring system is compatible with the specific
solar power system being used.

Cost: An IoT-based solar power monitoring system can be expensive to implement,

particularly for small-scale solar power systems. However, the benefits of the system may
outweigh the initial cost.

Security: An IoT-based monitoring system can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which can

compromise the security of the solar power system. It is important to have adequate security
measures in place to prevent such attacks.

Impact on the renewable energy sector:

Increased adoption of solar power: An IoT-based solar power monitoring system can
help to increase the adoption of solar power by providing real-time monitoring and data
analysis, which can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of solar power systems.

Improved performance: An IoT-based monitoring system can help to improve the

performance of solar power systems by providing real-time monitoring and identification of
issues. This can reduce downtime and improve overall performance, which can encourage
further adoption of solar power.

Reduced costs: An IoT-based monitoring system can help to reduce costs associated with
solar power systems by identifying inefficiencies and excessive energy consumption. This can
result in significant cost savings over time, which can make solar power more affordable for
consumers. Increased safety: An IoT-based monitoring system can help to increase safety by
providing real-time monitoring and identification of safety issues. This can reduce the risk of
accidents and injuries, which can encourage further adoption of solar power.

CONCLUSION:
An IoT-based solar power monitoring system can provide a range of benefits for solar power
systems, including increased efficiency, cost savings, improved safety, and remote monitoring.
However, there are also several challenges associated with implementing these systems, such as
data management, compatibility, cost, security, technical expertise, and reliability. Despite these
challenges, the benefits of IoT-based solar power monitoring systems may outweigh the costs
and challenges in the long run, and as renewable energy becomes more prevalent, IoT-based
solar power monitoring systems may become an essential tool for the industry.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of related computing devices, mechanical and digital
machines, objects, people or animals that are provided with unique identifiers and also the
potential to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-
computer interaction. Physical items are no longer disconnected from the virtual world, but can
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 be controlled remotely through Internet services. At last, we found from the result for simulation
process to getting result of light and voltage are caser by using blynk by using Wi-Fi for because
has a good
transmission. Monitoring guides the user in analysis of renewable energy usage.

REFERENCE:

a) Abhishek Parikh, Farah Pathan, Bhavdipsinh Rathod, Sandeep Shah, “Solar Panel Condition
Monitoring System based on Wireless Sensor Network”, International Journal of Science,
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b) Dr. Lavanya Dhanesh, Abarna.M, Janani.M, Preethika.K, “Solar Panel Monitoring System
Using Smart Phone Technology”, International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical,
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c) K.G. Srinivasan, Dr.K. Vimaladevi, Dr.S. Chakravarthy, “Solar Energy Monitoring System by
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d) Manish Katyarmal, Suyash Walkunde, Arvind Sakhare, Mrs.U.S. Rawandale, “Solar power
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Maintenance of Solar Plants using Real-time Data Analysis”, 2017 IEEE International
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h) V. Kavitha and V. Malathi, “A Smart Solar PV Monitoring System using IOT”,

10.5121/csit.2019.91502.

i) Vidyalakshmi, Gracy Hepzibah, Jeevitha, Kavi Priya, Premkumar, “Solar Monitoring using
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j) Vishal S. Patil, Aparna P. Morey, Gauri J. Chauhan, Suraj S. Bhute, Tejaswini S. Borkar, “A
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Computer Sciences and Engineering, Volume-7, Issue-8, Aug 2019.

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References

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