IOT-enabled thermal and surface management system for PV modules coupled with a Cylindro-Parabolic Collector

This study presents the development and validation of a hybrid solar-powered desalination system that integrates photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, a water pump, and a thermal distillation unit, enhanced by a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) for improved solar energy capture. The novelty of the work lies in an Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled, fully automated three-dimensional (3D) cleaning and cooling mechanism, designed in SOLIDWORKS and controlled by an ESP32 microcontroller, which enables real-time operation based on environmental conditions. Unlike conventional systems, the proposed design combines dust detection, thermal regulation, and predictive analytics into a unified, low-maintenance platform suitable for off-grid applications. Field experiments in Gödöllő, Hungary, demonstrated an 8–15 % increase in irradiance capture, with summer peaks of 950 W/m² compared to 850 W/m² for unmaintained modules, and a 12 % improvement in daily energy yield, while efficiency was maintained within ±5 % across seasons. Statistical validation confirmed predictive accuracy with coefficients of determination (R²) between 97.5 % and 98.8 %, supported by other performance metrics. These findings highlight the potential of integrating IoT-based automation with hybrid photovoltaic-cylindroparabolic collector PV-CPC systems to ensure reliable year-round operation. By combining automated cleaning, thermal management, and real-time monitoring, this study establishes a scalable benchmark for sustainable solar desalination technologies that reduce maintenance requirements and support continuous energy and water production in remote and off-grid environments. • IoT-enabled 3D cleaning & cooling improved PV irradiance by 7–15 % year-round. • Hybrid PV-CPC system achieved 160 L/day yield (∼64 L/m²·day), ηₜₕ =70.3 %. • Solar tracking optimised CPC alignment, cutting optical losses and boosting output. • Statistical validation: R² =97.5–98.8 %, MAPE =7–13 %, RMSE =36–42 W/m². • Salt rejection >99.9 %, TDS <30 ppm, outperforming conventional solar desalination.