Solar panel performance monitoring using Wireless Sensor Network in State Polytechnic of Malang

Abstract

Abstract The electricity supply used in State Polytechnic of Malang (Polinema) is still fully supported by PLN by utilizing the electricity source of the Electric Steam Power Plant (PLTU) with coal as a fuel. As the use of electricity in Polinema’s environment is very large, this has an impact on the expensive cost that must be incurred every month. The use of solar power as a new source of electricity that utilizes the nature of renewable energy can be used as an alternative electricity in Polinema. Supported by the use of solar panels with relatively affordable price and can be used as a long-term investment, it is expected that the use of electricity from PLN can be replaced by this solar power plant (PLTS). In this research, a prototype of electrical energy monitoring device produced by solar panel using several sensors connected in one network or commonly called Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) was designed and made. WSN was built using ESP32 microcontroller which is assembled with a voltage and current sensor which then the readings from the sensors will be sent wirelessly to the router to proceed to the server with internet facilities. Information from the sensors are being continously stored and monitored, so user can see the results of WSN reading from any location connected to the internet (real time).