Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Wireless Data Acquisition System for Solar Trackers

In the context of humanitarian technology, renewable energy represents a crucial resource for vulnerable sectors of society. Among the various options, photovoltaic solar energy stands out for its affordable cost, portability, ease of use and practicality, becoming a promising solution to improve living conditions in marginalized areas. In general, evaluating the performance of a solar cell requires taking periodic readings in situ, which limits the ability for continuous monitoring. To overcome this limitation, we propose the use of an automatic data recording device (datalogger) that works remotely. In this study, we present a wireless data transmission system for real-time monitoring of a photovoltaic solar panel, whose data is sent to a receiving database. Our proposal is based on a low-cost approach, using two Arduino® development boards configured in master-slave mode. Remote communication is carried out using nRF24L01 bidirectional radio frequency antenna modules, achieving the transmission of signals through the Arduino® IDE software. The main objective is to facilitate the monitoring of critical parameters of the solar panel to ensure its optimal operation. This research not only proposes an efficient and economical technical solution, but also aims to increase the viability of the implementation of renewable energies in disadvantaged communities, promoting their sustainable development according to objectives 3 and 10 of the 2030 Agenda related to Health and Well-being and Reduction of Inequalities.