Impact of Environmental Conditions on Wireless Signal Propagation in Solar Energy Farm

Wireless sensor networks play a critical role in the real-time monitoring and control of solar energy farms. However, environmental conditions such as rain, humidity, and temperature, dust, and terrain variations significantly impact signal propagation and network reliability. This study presents a detailed numerical modeling and MATLAB based simulation of wireless signal attenuation in a typical solar farm layout under diverse environmental scenarios. Using established models including the ITU-R P.838 for rain attenuation and empirical models for humidity and visibility-based dust effects the simulation analyzes signal strength (RSSI) over varying distances, frequencies (Zigbee at 2.4 GHz and LoRa at 430 MHz), and atmospheric conditions. The results of the research shows a considerable signal reduction during heavy rainfall and low visibility events, with additional losses introduced by the tilt angle of panel and terrain elevation. Coverage maps and performance plots highlight best-case and worst-case communication scenarios. Recommended for resilient network designs such as increased node density, optimized antenna placement, and protocol selection are provided to ensure robust wireless communication. The Knowledge gained from this work are essential for designing adaptive, weather-resilient sensor networks in renewable energy infrastructures.