Low-Cost Arduino LoRa Transmitter for Monitoring PV Systems

This study addresses the need for cost-effective supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to monitor and control grid-connected inverter units and battery energy storage systems in remote photovoltaic (PV) plants. By leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology and open-source platforms, a novel SCADA model based on LoRa communication is proposed. This model integrates Arduino microcontrollers, LoRaWAN servers, and data visualization tools like Grafana to monitor and control PV system parameters. Through experimentation, it is demonstrated that the LoRa-based SCADA system achieves reliable long-range communication up to 15km with low power consumption. The system's effectiveness is validated by successfully collecting and analyzing data on PV and battery performance. Overall, this research presents a practical solution for affordable SCADA implementation in remote PV systems, addressing the growing demand for grid stability and energy cost optimization.