Remote Monitoring and Control of Photovoltaic Energy Production by Arduino-Gsm Sim900

International Journal of Advanced Engineering, Management and
Science (IJAEMS)
Peer-Reviewed Journal
ISSN: 2454-1311 | Vol-10, Issue-5; Jul-Aug, 2024
Journal Home Page: https://ijaems.com/
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijaems.105.19
This article can be downloaded from here: www.ijaems.com 229
©2024 The Author(s). Published by Infogain Publication, This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Remote Monitoring and Control of Photovoltaic Energy
Production by Arduino-Gsm Sim900
Eulalie Rafanjanirina, Junior Tigana Mandimby, Onimiamina Rakoto Joseph, Jaolalaina
Andrianaivoarivelo, Thierry Andrianarinosy, Zely Randriamantany
Institute for Energy Management (IME), University of Antananarivo, PB 566, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
Received: 27 Jul 2024; Received in revised form: 11 Aug 2024; Accepted: 17 Aug 2024; Available online: 24 Aug 2024
Abstract— The monitoring system is a key element in any energy production installation, making it possible
to monitor operating parameters in real time and optimize production. In this article, we present a model of
a monitoring system based on the Arduino microcontroller and the GSM module, compatible with any type
of solar installation. Our monitoring system uses current, voltage and temperature sensors to measure the
operating parameters of a photovoltaic system. We simulated the operation of this system using Proteus
software, and the simulation results demonstrated the correct operation of our model. Based on these results,
we created a prototype of our monitoring system. The latter is capable of sending measured operating
parameters as SMS notifications to a smartphone, thus enabling real-time remote monitoring.
Keywords— Renewable energies, photovoltaics, microcontroller, Arduino, GSM, monitoring,
surveillance, optimization
I. INTRODUCTION
Renewable energy production has become a global priority
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate
change. Among the different sources of renewable energy,
photovoltaic solar energy is one of the most promising,
thanks to its modularity, reliability and low maintenance
cost.
However, to optimize solar energy production and
guarantee the reliability of installations, it is essential to
set up an effective monitoring system, making it possible
to monitor operating parameters in real time and quickly
detect possible malfunctions.
In this context, our research aims to present a model of a
monitoring system based on the Arduino microcontroller
and the GSM module, compatible with any type of
autonomous solar installation. This system makes it
possible to remotely monitor the operation of the
installation, to identify possible beginnings of problems,
and to receive alerts by SMS in the event of a critical
situation or sudden breakdown. Indeed, for a large
photovoltaic installation, one day without production can
generate a huge loss of turnover. It is therefore important
to be informed without any delay.
The proposed system is linked to a GSM/GPRS network,
which allows real-time remote communication. As an
option, numerous sensors can be added to better identify
the beginnings of a drop in performance of a component or
to diagnose a problem: wind direction and intensity, air
temperature, panel temperature, solar irradiation, etc.
In this article, we present the Arduino-GSM SIM900
monitoring system model, then we describe the steps of its
simulation with the Proteus software. Finally, we present a
prototype that we created to demonstrate how our system
works. The results obtained show that our monitoring
system offers a simple, economical and effective solution
for monitoring and optimizing autonomous solar energy
production. We hope that this contribution will contribute
to the global energy transition towards cleaner and more
sustainable energy sources.
II. METHODOLOGY
2.1. Harnessing solar energy
Photovoltaic energy has become an increasingly promising
solution among energy options, thanks to its advantages
such as abundance, lack of pollution and availability in
large quantities worldwide. This is all the more important

Rafanjanirina et al. International Journal of Advanced Engineering, Management and Science, 10(5) -2024
given the increase in the cost of conventional energies and
the limitation of their resources.
2.1. 1. Photovoltaic solar cell
The photovoltaic cell is the basic element of photovoltaic
solar panels. It is a silicon-based semiconductor device
which delivers a voltage of around 0.5 to 0.6 V.
Figure 1: Photovoltaic cell
2.1.2 . Solar or photovoltaic module
The solar module or photovoltaic panel is the series and
parallel association of numerous cells to obtain greater
current and voltage. In order to obtain the voltage
necessary for the inverter, the panels are connected in
series and then form a chain of modules or "string". The
chains are then combined in parallel and form a
photovoltaic field. It is also necessary to install diodes or
fuses in series on each string of modules to prevent damage
in the event of a shadow on one string.
Figure 2: Photovoltaic field
2.1.3 . Photovoltaic solar power plant
A photovoltaic solar power plant can be autonomous or
connected to a network. Solar power plants connected to
the grid have an installed power of more than 100 MWp in
2012, unlike stand-alone photovoltaic solar systems whose
power rarely exceeds 100 kWp .
For autonomous photovoltaic solar systems intended to
supply electricity to buildings or isolated installations, it is
necessary to install charge accumulators or batteries to
store the energy supplied by the solar modules and meet all
of the needs. This type of installation is suitable for sites
that cannot be connected to the network.
Figure 3: Standalone installation example
In this installation:
• photovoltaic panels produce direct electric
current;
• the regulator optimizes the charging and
discharging of the battery according to its
capacity and ensures its protection;
• the inverter transforms direct current into
alternating current to power the AC receivers;
• the batteries are charged during the day to be able
to power at night or on bad weather days;
• specific DC receptors can also be used; these
devices are particularly economical.
For installations connected to the public distribution
network, there are two options: total injection and surplus
injection.
• In the case of total injection, all the electrical
energy produced by the photovoltaic sensors is
sent to the distribution network to be resold. This
solution is achieved with two connections to the
public network: one for the consumer and one for
the injection of the energy produced.
• In the case of surplus injection, the user consumes
the energy he produces with the solar system and
the surplus is injected into the network. When
photovoltaic production is insufficient, the
network provides the necessary energy. This
solution is achieved with a single connection to
the public network and an additional meter to
measure the injected energy.

Fig.4: Facilities connected to the public distribution
network with surplus injection
In a large photovoltaic power plant, there is a control room
equipped with electronic and computer equipment to
process instantaneous data from the plant on site.
2.1.4. Control and monitoring devices
To ensure the proper functioning of a photovoltaic power
plant, it is necessary to install control and monitoring
devices.
2.1.4.1. Plant status management device
In a photovoltaic power plant, the system state
management device makes it possible to give the
instantaneous production of electrical energy (kW), the
production of electrical energy (kWh/day), the estimate of
the reduction in emissions of CO 2 and the operating
position of the solar photovoltaic system (failed, in service,
waiting and stopped).
2.1.4.2. Environmental measurement system
Environmental measuring devices, including solar
radiation measuring instruments and temperature sensors,
are installed within the solar power plant. These
instruments make it possible to record the climatic
conditions in the area where the photovoltaic modules are
installed. The collected data is saved in a computer.
Fig.5: Environmental measurement system
II.1.4.3. Data acquisition equipment in a solar power
plant
A computer allowing the acquisition and processing of data
from the various equipment of the photovoltaic solar power
plant is often installed. This data is composed of:
• the amount of solar radiation received by the
panels;
• the outside air temperature;
• energy production from DC panels and AC
inverters;
• the voltage in DC and AC;
• the current in DC and AC;
• the frequency of the inverters;
• reducing CO 2 emissions .
The computer allows this data to be observed in real time
using software. Data is recorded in log form by minute,
hour, day, week, month and year.
2.1.5. Upkeep and maintenance operation in a
photovoltaic solar power plant
To ensure the proper functioning and lifespan of a
photovoltaic solar power plant, it is necessary to carry out
regular upkeep and maintenance operations.
Fig.1: Mops to use for cleaning
2.1.5.1. Connection control
Connection control consists of the visual inspection of the
various installations of the solar power plant to ensure
production. The sections to check are:
• the rows of photovoltaic modules;
• junction boxes;
• cabinets in the control room;
• the load switch;
• billboards.

This type of check is carried out regularly or irregularly,
for example after rain or strong wind which could cause
damage.
2.1.5.2. Component control
It is a control which consists of periodically carrying out a
visual and electrical inspection of the various components
of the photovoltaic solar power plant.
2.1.5.3. Cleaning
To ensure the performance of installed modules, it is
necessary to protect them against dust and shade. Monthly
cleaning is therefore very useful to remove dust and
possible debris.
2.2. Microcontrollers
Microcontrollers are microprocessor-type information
processing units to which internal peripherals are added,
allowing their components to perform assembly without
requiring the addition of additional components. They are
today widely used in many public or professional
applications, depending on their needs.
Among the most common microcontrollers, we can cite:
• CMOS microcontrollers, such as Microchip PICs
;
• Motorola's 16HC11, which features numerous
peripherals such as counters, pulse width
modulation (PWM), analog-to-digital converters
(ADC), digital I/O, and serial links;
• microcontrollers based on Intel's 8051
architecture (like those from ST, Atmel or
Philips), which offer advanced computing
capabilities. This family of 8-bit microcontrollers
is an industrial standard in its own right;
• Raspberry Pi microcontrollers , which are
advanced platforms.
2.2.1. Arduino microcontroller
Arduino is an open-source programmable electronics
platform, which consists of a microcontroller board (from
the AVR family) and software which constitutes an
integrated development environment (IDE). This allows
you to write, compile and transfer the program to the
microcontroller card.
Arduino can be used to build independent interactive
objects (rapid prototyping) or be connected to a computer
to communicate with its software.
2.2.1.1. Hardware part
An Arduino board is generally built around an Atmel AVR
microcontroller (like the ATmega328 or ATmega2560 for
recent versions, or the ATmega168 or ATmega8 for older
versions), as well as complementary components that
facilitate the programming and interfacing with other
circuits. Each card has at least a 5V linear regulator and a
16 MHz crystal oscillator (or a ceramic resonator in some
models). The microcontroller is pre-programmed with a
“boot loader” which eliminates the need for a dedicated
programmer.
There are thirteen versions of Arduino boards to date.
Among the most used in the fields of training and research,
we can cite the Arduino Uno and the Arduino Mega 2560.
The following table summarizes their main characteristics.
Table 1: Arduino UNO vs Mega 2560 Comparison Chart
Arduino Mega 2560 Arduino Uno
Microcontroller ATmega2560 ATmega328
Dimension 101mm*53mm 69mm*54mm
Operating voltage 5V 5V
Supply voltage (recommended) 7-12V 7-12V
Supply voltage (limits) 6-20V 6-20V
Digital I/O Pins 54 (14 of which have a PWM output) 14 (6 of which have a PWM
output)
Analog Input Pins 16 (usable as digital I/O pins) 6 (usable as digital I/O pins)
Maximum current available per I/O pin (5V) 40 mA (WARNING: 200mA
cumulative for all I/O pins)
40 mA (WARNING: 200mA
cumulative for all I/O pins)
Maximum intensity available for 3.3V output 50 mA 50 mA

Maximum intensity available for 5V output Power supply function used – 500 mA
max if USB port used alone
Power supply function used –
500 mA max if USB port used
alone
Flash Program Memory 256 KB of which 8 KB are used by the
boot loader
32 KB (ATmega328) of which
0.5 KB is used by the boot loader
SRAM (volatile memory) 8 KB 2 KB (ATmega328)
EEPROM (non-volatile memory) memory 4 KB 1 KB (ATmega328)
Clock speed 16 MHz 16 MHz
SPI/I2C AVAILABL AVAILABLE
2.2.1.2. Software part
The Arduino programming environment is actually an IDE
dedicated to the Arduino language. This software allows
you to write programs (or “sketches”), compile them and
transfer them to the Arduino card via a USB connection. It
also includes a serial port monitor.
The advantage of Arduino language is that it is based on
C/C++ languages, which means that it supports all standard
C language syntaxes and some C++ tools. Many libraries
are also available free of charge to communicate with the
hardware connected to the card (LCD displays, 7-segment
displays, sensors, servomotors, etc.).
To write a program with the Arduino language, it is
important to respect certain rules. First of all, the execution
of an Arduino program is sequential, which means that the
instructions are executed one after the other. Then, the
compiler checks for the existence of two mandatory
structures:
• the initialization and input/output configuration
part;
• the main part which runs in a loop and contains
the loop () function.
The variable declaration part is optional.
Figure 6 shows the graphical interface of the Arduino IDE,
as well as the structure of a program created with the
Arduino language.
Fig.6: Program structure on the Arduino IDE
2.2.2. Arduino Mega 2560 board
The Arduino Mega 2560 board is based on an
ATmega2560 microcontroller and features:
• 54 digital input/output pins, 14 of which can be
used as PWM output;
• 16 analog inputs, which can also be used as digital
I/O pins;
• 4 hardware serial ports (UART);
• 1 crystal 16 MHz;
• 1 USB connection;
• 1 jack power connector;
• 1 ICSP connector (“in-circuit” programming);
• 1 reset button.

This board contains everything a microcontroller needs to
function. It is also compatible with printed circuits
designed for Arduino Uno, Duemilanove or Diecimila
cards .
Figure 7 shows the Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller
board.
Fig.7: Arduino MEGA2560 board
2.2.3. GSM/ GPRS module
The GSM/GPRS module is an interface board compatible
with Arduino. It allows you to send and receive SMS, data
or voice communications from the mobile network. This
module is based on the SIM900 circuit and is controlled via
AT commands from an Arduino board.
Fig.8: Sim900
The module has a remote patch antenna and
communication between the module and the Arduino board
is carried out via an asynchronous serial link (UART) or a
software serial link.
Here are the main characteristics of the SIM900 module:
• Quad-band: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz;
• GPRS data rate: up to 85.6 kbps;
• Serial interface: UART, with TTL or RS-232
voltage level;
• Power supply: 3.4 to 4.4 V;
• Power consumption: 1.5 mA in standby and 2 A
in communication;
• Operating temperature: -20°C to +70°C;
• Dimensions: 57 x 55 x 11 mm.
2.2.4. Sensor
A sensor is a technical component which detects a physical
event linked to the operation of a system (presence of a
room, temperature, etc.) and translates it into a signal
usable by the system (generally electrical, in the form of a
low voltage signal ).
The information detected by a sensor can be very varied,
which implies a wide variety of sensor needs. Among the
most common and frequent are position, presence, speed,
temperature and level sensors.
2.2.5. Mounting the control system on Proteus
The proposed system consists of communication module
circuit, battery level indicator circuit, ammeter module,
temperature sensor, photo resistor and microcontroller
module.
The battery level indicator circuit measures voltages across
the solar panel batteries and across the solar panels
themselves.
The ammeter module allows you to measure the current
used by the load and the current supplied by the PV
modules.
The temperature sensor allows you to know the
temperature inside the inverter.
The photoresistor mounted on the surface of the solar
modules makes it possible to monitor the solar irradiation
received by the module.
The current (p1, p2) and voltage (V1, V2) communication
buses are connected to the photovoltaic installation (figure
10).
For the simulation, we propose an installation of 4
12V/100W solar collectors in parallel and two 12V/150Ah
batteries also in parallel. A 300W load is connected to the
batteries.
Figure 10 shows the data processing circuit diagram.

Fig.10: Solar installation on Proteus ISIS
III. RESULTS
We simulated a solar collector with a nominal voltage of
12V on ISIS by connecting it to a 12V/10W lamp (Figure
11). The illumination of the lamp and the intensity increase
as the voltage across the solar panel rises from 12 to 18V
(Figure 12).
Fig.11: 12V solar collector with load
Fig.12: 18V solar collector with load
3.1. Simulation of the GSM module with the Arduino
To simulate the GSM SIM 900 module with the Arduino
Uno, we used the “GSM Arduino-PROTEUS” library on
the PROTEUS software. To visualize the process and the
SMS, we used a virtual Rx / Tx interface from Arduino
(Figure 13).
Fig.13: Simulation of the SIM900 GSM module
We verified the SMS transmission of the GSM/Arduino
system by uploading the program in Appendix 1 to the
microcontroller. Proteus virtual interfaces show the SMS
sent by the system to a recipient (Figure 14).
Fig.14: Observation of the sent SMS
3.2. Temperature sensor simulation
Arduino UNO has a built-in UART for serial
communication. The Rx and TX pins (0 and 1 respectively)
can be used to communicate serial data with any device
(like Bluetooth, GSM, GPS, etc.). We connected the output
of the LM 35 temperature sensor to the analog channel A0
of the Arduino (Figure 15).

Fig.15: Arduino-temperature sensor on Proteus ISIS
By programming the Arduino, the digital output of the
temperature sensor is displayed on the Proteus virtual
terminal every 1 second (Figure 16).
Fig.16: Temperature sensor simulation on ISIS
3.3. Current/voltage module simulation
The ACS712 current sensor interfaces with the Arduino for
measuring AC and DC current. The ACS712 is a cost-
effective solution for current sensing in industrial, energy
and communications applications.
To calculate the current from the output voltage of the
ACS712 current sensor, we performed the following
calculations:
• When there is no current flowing through the
sensor, the output voltage will be Vcc/2. Where
Vcc is the supply voltage supplied to the ACS712.
• If Vcc = 5 volts, then the current sensor output
voltage will be 2.5 when there is no current
passing through a sensor.
• 2.5 volts is the offset voltage or base voltage of
the sensor which must be subtracted from the
measured voltage.
• The output voltage decreases as current begins to
flow through the sensor.
So we calculated the direct current using the following
commands:
Adcvalue = analogRead (A0);
Voltage = ( Adcvalue / 1024.0) * 1000;
Current = ((Voltage - voltage_offset ) / mVperAmp );
The measured numerical value is stored in the variable “
Adcvalue ”. In the second line, we convert the digital value
of voltage to analog voltage in milliamps by multiplying it
by the resolution factor and dividing by 1000 to convert it
to voltage in milliamps. In the third row, the measured
voltage is subtracted from the offset voltage voltage_offset
and divided by the sensitivity factor mVperAmp to obtain
the measured voltage current.
As shown in Figure 18, the voltage shows the voltage
across the ACS 712 and the current shows the
measurement which is exactly the same current that we
measured with a virtual ammeter in Proteus.
Fig.17: ACS712 ACS Module
Fig.18: Arduino and ACS 712 on Proteus

Fig.19: ACS712 simulation on Proteus
3.4. Creation of a prototype
We created a prototype to test the operation of the system
experimentally. Figure 20 shows the completed prototype
of the control system of a photovoltaic installation as a
whole. In this prototype, we used a 12V/5W solar panel, a
12V/4Ah battery, an Arduino Uno board, a SIM900 GSM
module, an ACS 712 module for current measurement and
a voltmeter module for voltage measurement .
Fig.20: Prototype
The system automatically sends an SMS notification in the
event of a sudden outage or wiring anomaly between the
photovoltaic sensor and the energy storage system (Figure
21). The system also indicates the state of charge (charged
or discharged) of the battery (Figure 22).
Fig.21: Cutoff status
Fig.22: Loaded state
IV. DISCUSSION
The results obtained during the simulation and creation of
the prototype showed that the control system of a
photovoltaic installation, based on the Arduino platform
and the SIM900 GSM module, is functional and meets the
remote monitoring needs of the status of the power plant.
The system is able to detect technical failures and transmit
SMS notifications to predefined recipients, allowing rapid
and efficient intervention by maintenance technicians. In
addition, the system makes it possible to monitor the state
of charge of the batteries, which is essential to guarantee
the continuity of the electrical supply in the event of a
power outage.

The Arduino platform and the SIM900 GSM module are
reliable and proven components, which guarantee the
sustainability of the system over time. However, it is
important to note that the lifespan of each component used
in the electrical installation can have an impact on the
overall reliability of the system.
The target groups that can use this remote control platform
are numerous. Firstly, technicians in a photovoltaic plant
can benefit from this system to monitor and maintain the
installation remotely, reducing costs and travel time.
Additionally, home users can also use this platform to
monitor and control their own PV installation, allowing
them to maximize their solar energy production and reduce
their electricity bill.
V. CONCLUSION
As part of this project, we carried out photovoltaic system
control system simulations with the use of Arduino and
SIM 900 on Proteus software. We also designed a
prototype to test how the system works.
The main objective of this project is the automatic
management of a photovoltaic system using an electronic
command and control platform. Thanks to this system, we
can remotely monitor energy production, be informed in
the event of an anomaly or malfunction, and know the
available energy storage capacity.
The system is based on the use of Arduino for data
collection and processing, as well as the use of SIM 900 for
remote communication via SMS. The simulations carried
out on Proteus made it possible to validate the operation of
the system and to correct any bugs or errors.
In terms of improvement prospects, we can consider the
use of another electronic system such as Raspberry Pi
instead of Arduino, which would allow broader and more
complex management of the photovoltaic system. We
could also consider presenting the different parameters
(current, voltage, energy, temperature, etc.) in the form of
curves or graphs for more intuitive visualization and deeper
analysis of the data.
REFERENCES
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photovoltaic solar power plant in a maritime desert
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[2] Bressan, M. (2014). Development of a supervision and
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thesis, University of Perpignan Via Domitia , France.
[3] Arduino DC, Difference Between Uno and mega2560,
Forum, available at https://forum.arduino.cc/t/difference-
between-uno-and-mega-2560/321793, accessed January 12,
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[4] Greening -e, Maintenance and monitoring of photovoltaic
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