IoT based smart solar PV monitoring system; A Cost Effective and reliable solution

Abstract

The current world demands for sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources as the conventional energy sources (mainly fossil fuels) are depleting day by day. Therefore, there has been a great focus on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in the recent years of which solar photovoltaic, PV energy is one of the potential candidates. Since solar energy is sporadic in nature and its output depends on various meteorological parameters such has the intensity of sunlight on solar panels or soiling on PV panels and any defect or damage to the PV-panel can affect the PV-panel efficiency and desired yield. Therefore, parameters of the PV systems have to be supervised remotely that should offer the stockholders to increase the yield and efficiency at reduced cost and minimum human interventions. Internet of Things (IoT) is the best candidate for such systems offering improved supervision, data acquisition and preventive maintenance at low cost.