Embedded Energy Monitoring System for Solar Applications

In recent years, the use of solar technology as an alternative to conventional methods of electricity generation has increased. However, they have a low conversion efficiency; one way to increase energy production is by using Solar Tracking Systems (STS), which cause energy expenditure. Monitoring systems are required to calculate the energy balance between produced and consumed. In this research, the design and implementation from a concurrent approach of an embedded system for energy monitoring in solar applications is presented, obtaining a low energy consumption, high connectivity, scalable, modular, and open architecture system. Experimental tests were carried out considering five proposed energy-saving strategies. These tests recorded the energy consumption of actuators, electronic hardware, and generated power, resulting in a 16.47% increase in the energy budget and a reduction in the global power consumption of 7.27%. Notably, the developed embedded system exhibited a low energy consumption of 0.326Wh.