Smart solar panel automated cleaning system
Background: The largest source of renewable energy is solar energy.Solar energy is the future of renewable energy production. Solar panel turns sun-rays into electricity using either PV or CSP directly.Due to dust accumulation on solar panels, moisture and air
2025-06-28 16:29:24 - Adil Khan
Smart solar panel automated cleaning system
Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject SummaryBackground:
The largest source of renewable energy is solar energy.Solar energy is the future of renewable energy production. Solar panel turns sun-rays into electricity using either PV or CSP directly.Due to dust accumulation on solar panels, moisture and air pollution, the solar cell energy output decrease.To obtain maximum energy there must be regular cleaning of solar panel but manual cleaning decrease efficiency and consume time and increase labor cost
Project idea / Summary:
In proposed system we automatically clean the solar panel by applying dust, rain, voltage, current and sonar sensor to increase its efficiency by 25% - 40%.we have to develop automated system implement IOT this way countries like Pakistan reduce labor cost and maximize power out to reduce shortfall.we are using Internet of Things for Online monitoring of our system and also for the maintenance of the solar panel.Our system is fully automated, permanent solar panel cleaning system with/without water.
Project Objectivessolar panel is without power losses and clean and green source of energy. The main problem we face today is to improve the out power to grid station.
- No more manual cleaning.
- To increase efficiency of Solar Panel.
- To make system automatic and easy to set up in terms of wash and rinse times.
- To make the system at low cost and commercially available.
- Smart maintenance of Solar Panel using Internet of Things.
- Increaase life of solar panel.
- Minimal water resources and power usuage.
- Water engine pump is triggered through Arduino UNO microcontroller and the L293D motor driver, to detect the presence of dust particles in the air surrounding the solar PV panel.
- Cleaning wiping system is the system includes a connection with geared motor, conveyor, pulley and wiper via Arduino UNO and L293D.
- The rainfall sensor communicates with the Arduino UNO and a waste-washing device for cleaning the solar panel. Instead of pumped water in the presence of the rainfall the concept behind this subsystem consists of using rainwater for cleaning PV solar panels to minimize the use of water.
- The implemented IOT framework is the Arduino board here is connected via ESP8266 chip to the Internet. The ESP8266 SOC links Arduino to Wi-Fi.
Benefits:
- Clean and green environment for pakistan.
- MPPT charge controller increased effectiveness of solar panel by 30% .
- MPPT control the complexity of the system, it also maintane proper voltages that stored in batteries.
- As charge controller keep the battery healthy by protecting battery from overcharge by panel and over charge from the overload.
- Ordinary charge controller is not efficient so we use prototype charge controller that is efficient and smart enough to understand bettery need and solar condition.
- Efficiency and monitering of solar panel can be increased by IOT and MPPT.
- Environment will be clean and green whenever this setup is implemented because it inputs solar rays and does not discharge harmful radiation into environment.
so final deliverable will be software simulation and hardware as well.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry Energy Other Industries IT Core Technology Internet of Things (IoT)Other Technologies Clean TechSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate ActionRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 26250 | |||
| sensors | Equipment | 4 | 750 | 3000 |
| motor | Equipment | 1 | 1200 | 1200 |
| solar panel | Equipment | 1 | 4000 | 4000 |
| charge controller | Equipment | 1 | 1100 | 1100 |
| battery | Equipment | 1 | 1800 | 1800 |
| Arduino | Equipment | 1 | 800 | 800 |
| LCD display | Equipment | 1 | 800 | 800 |
| brush and belt | Equipment | 1 | 750 | 750 |
| shower and pulleys | Equipment | 1 | 1500 | 1500 |
| motor driver | Equipment | 1 | 1400 | 1400 |
| mechanical frame | Miscellaneous | 1 | 2700 | 2700 |
| miscellaneous | Miscellaneous | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |
| KHARAD mechanical work | Miscellaneous | 1 | 5200 | 5200 |