autonomous solar measurement system for sustainable solar energy

This paper discusses the development of an autonomous system to measure the real technical potential of solar power, taking into account weather and climate impacts. it reviews different methods of gauging solar radiation and makes the case for a combined measurement system using the photoelectric method plus additional sensors to track weather data. the system’s design integrates a photoelectric module, sensors for electrical parameters, weather metrics, temperature control around the photoelectric converters, and data transfer to a web server. an experimental study of the system’s effectiveness, conducted in sevastopol, shows it can monitor technical solar potential continuously with at least 97 % accuracy under varied environmental conditions. the results outline electricity generation dynamics under diverse weather scenarios (precipitation, wind, temperature, humidity), enabling calibrated modeling projections. key findings show precipitation shading, plus pollution and dust accumulation on the photoelectric converter surfaces, along with temperature fluctuations markedly influence technical solar potential. such factors can create a gap of up to 4 times between real output and theoretical yield based on solar insulation data. the developed system allows comprehensive mapping of any region’s solar resources to pinpoint optimal spots for sustainable photovoltaic energy ventures, advancing renewable power goals. it also streamlines siting solar plants while minimizing risk through objective assessment of a location’s solar assets.