Remote and Real-Time Monitoring of Solar Photovoltaic Facilities Using a Reconfigurable Internet of Things Platform

Renewable energy sources are generally considered the best alternative and reliable to fossil fuels for supplying our expanding energy needs. In particular, solar cells can be used to convert solar energy into electrical power. Numerous solar farms are located in isolated areas like deserts, mountains, and roofs. To optimize the operation of these solar photovoltaic systems, effective monitoring is essential. The most fundamental method of monitoring solutions is offline data collection, which requires the setup and installation of data-collecting equipment as well as local storage for a predetermined amount of time. However, this conventional monitoring method does not provide real-time data. Therefore, there is a notable performance improvement when solar photovoltaic power generation is managed through the use of IoT (Internet of Things) technology. This project aims to develop an IoT-based control system for the installation, remote, and real-time monitoring of solar photovoltaic systems. The collected output performance data using IoT technology were more reliable and it can be saved in the cloud and may be retrieved through an application with a dynamic internet connection from any location in the world. This allows for quick defect diagnosis and maintenance by providing instant insights into the installation's condition.