IoT-Based Monitoring and Control of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System Utilizing Solar and Microhydro Sources

The growing need for sustainable and reliable energy solutions has led to increased interest in hybrid renewable energy systems that combine solar photovoltaic (PV) and microhydro power generation. This paper presents the design and implementation of a prototype hybrid system integrated with IoTbased monitoring and control. The motivation behind this work is to explore the viability of hybrid renewable energy systems for reliable power generation, especially in regions with variable weather conditions. This study highlights the importance of integrating microhydro power, particularly during rainy conditions, to supplement the solar system's reduced output. The system uses current and voltage sensors to monitor the performance of the photovoltaic panels and battery, measuring parameters such as capacity and energy output. An ESP32 microcontroller is used to collect and transmit real-time data to the Thinger.io IoT platform, enabling remote monitoring and management of the system. The results demonstrate the significant impact of weather conditions on the system's performance. Under sunny conditions, a 12Ah battery is fully charged in approximately 5 hours with a peak power output of 22.55 watts. In contrast, cloudy and rainy conditions result in much lower charging efficiency, with rainy conditions contributing almost no charging. Load testing revealed that the system, when powering two 10-watt lamps, ran for 273 minutes, while adding a 30-watt water pump reduced the battery life to 39 minutes, consuming a total of 11.46Ah.