An intelligent PV solar panel maintenance and monitoring system for enhanced energy efficiency.

Abstract

Solar energy is the most abundant source of renewable energy. Constant soling and wind storm further reduce the efficiency of production of solar energy because the soil particles accumulate the solar photo voltaic cells and this limits the number of solar radiations striking solar PV cell. Therefore, it is essential to have regular and proper cleaning of panel. In most of the parts the cleaning is done manually. This type of cleaning is not uniform and it may cause health issues to the workers, and also solar Photovoltaic cells are prone to damage. This can be solved by the designing and developing an intelligent PV solar panel maintenance and monitoring system for enhanced energy efficiency. the system enables an operator to check on the daily working of his/her solar systems remotely which is enabled through the use of an online website blynk. The remote operator is able to check the solar parameters like the voltage output, current levels, dust concentration, and the times of the day without physically being at the Solar panel site or plant. The system has the sensors which help in determining the different parameters necessary. The system does automatic cleaning of the panels when Arduino triggers the cleaning process due to dust concentration level sensed, ensuring maximum energy efficiency. The system was developed using a combination of hardware and software components, including Arduino Uno microcontroller, and a cloud-based system that stores real-time data and performance for a remote monitoring. (Blynk software) solar panel among others. The system was tested and evaluated for its performance, accuracy, and remote monitoring of performance and automated maintenance, demonstrating excellent results.