High-performance IoT Module for controlling and testing PV panels

This article presents a new IoT Module, developed in the COPILOT-CM project, aimed at monitoring and optimising the performance of PV systems. The proposed IoT Module provides a hardware and software platform applied to each individual PV panel. This allows each panel to acquire data, self-diagnose and reconfigure itself for maximum efficiency. It also enables high-frequency monitoring of electrical and environmental parameters and communication with other panels and IoT clouds to coordinate certain reconfiguration actions. Its functionality and performance is verified through simulations and experimental tests. The results validate that the designed IoT Module offers a novel monitoring and management solution for PV panels, allowing to improve their performance and evolving towards PV digitisation.