IoT-Based Solar PV Monitoring System Using ESP32 & ThingSpeak | Project III (EPR307C)

☀️ IoT-Based Solar PV Monitoring System Using ESP32 and ThingSpeak Welcome to my final Project III (EPR307C) engineering presentation at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT), South Africa. This project focuses on the design and implementation of an ESP32-based monitoring system to investigate the relationship between photovoltaic (PV) panel temperature and open-circuit voltage under varying environmental conditions. 🔬 Project Objectives The main objective is to develop a monitoring system capable of collecting photovoltaic and environmental measurements and analysing how panel temperature relates to open-circuit voltage. ⚙️ Hardware and Technologies ESP32 microcontroller INA226 voltage measurement sensor NTC thermistor for PV panel temperature DHT22 ambient temperature and humidity sensor LDR for relative light intensity Rain/wetness sensor interface 16×2 I²C LCD ThingSpeak IoT cloud platform Microsoft Excel for data processing and statistical analysis 📊 Data Collection and Analysis The research dataset covers 15–31 July 2026, containing 24,497 observations recorded at 30-second intervals during daytime monitoring. The analysis includes: Raw data organisation and quality checks 15-minute averaging and time-series visualisation Temperature-versus-voltage scatter plots Pearson correlation and linear regression Interpretation of measurement uncertainty and environmental influences For the selected observations with relative light readings of at least 70%, the dataset produced: Pearson correlation: −0.961 Regression slope: −0.0599 V/°C R²: 0.923 These results indicate a strong negative association between the recorded panel temperature and open-circuit voltage. However, further sensor calibration and verification of the original cloud measurements are necessary before drawing definitive experimental conclusions. 🎥 Presentation Structure Part 1: System Overview, Hardware and Operation Part 2: Data Collection, Processing and Analysis Part 3: Research Findings, Conclusion and Future Improvements 🎓 Academic Information Student: Thapelo Mahloko Student Number: 224135027 Institution: Central University of Technology, Free State Module: Project III (EPR307C) Project Supervisor: Prof. P. E. Hertzog Year: 2026 📚 Related Research Maqache, N., and Swart, A. J. (2021). Remotely measuring and controlling specific parameters of a PV module via an RF link. 3C Tecnología, 10(4), 103–129. This study provides relevant background on remote photovoltaic monitoring, surface-temperature measurement and electrical sensor validation. --- #ESP32 #SolarEnergy #Photovoltaic #IoT #ThingSpeak #RenewableEnergy #ElectricalEngineering #CUT #ProjectIII #DataAnalysis