IoT Driven Solar Panel Monitoring and Fault Detection System for Enhanced Operation Efficiency

In modern solar power systems, efficient power generation is essential to meet growing energy demands. However, issues such as faulty panels, poor electrical connections, and dust accumulation can reduce output, often going undetected without frequent manual inspections, affecting uninterrupted power generation. Manual monitoring methods are timeconsuming, reliant on human intervention, and lack real-time data, limiting their effectiveness in ensuring optimal performance. To address these challenges, we propose an innovative IoT-based solar panel fault detection system that continuously measures essential parameters such as voltage, current, and sunlight intensity using advanced sensors integrated across solar panels, combined with an alert mechanism. The system utilizes voltage, current, and light-dependent resistor (LDR) sensors to monitor key panel parameters in real-time. This data is transmitted to a cloud platform for storage and analysis, while a GSM module provides SMS alerts to users upon detecting abnormal readings like reduced voltage, current fluctuations, or low light intensity. Users can access this data through a mobile app, enabling remote tracking of energy generation, promoting proactive maintenance, enhancing efficiency, and contributing to a sustainable energy future. By automating fault detection, the system ensures early identification of issues, minimizing downtime and optimizing energy output. Consequently, it leads to better panel usage, consistent power generation, and a greater return on investment for users, making solar energy a more viable and sustainable power generation.