Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
08:20
In Situ Soil Moisture Sensors in Undisturbed Soils
Published on: November 18, 2022
6.5K
Low-Cost, Open-Source, Emoncms-Based SCADA System for a Large Grid-Connected PV System
Luqman Ahsan1, Mirza Jabbar Aziz Baig1, Mohmmad Tariq Iqbal1
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 230 Elizabeth Avenue, St. Johns, NL A1C 5S7, Canada.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 23, 2022
Summary
This study presents a low-cost, open-source Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for photovoltaic (PV) plants. The system utilizes readily available hardware and software for effective local data logging and visualization.
Area of Science:
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Control Engineering
- Data Acquisition
Background:
- Commercial Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for photovoltaic (PV) plants are often proprietary, expensive, and site-specific.
- There is a need for cost-effective and flexible monitoring solutions for PV installations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and implement a low-cost, open-source SCADA system for PV plants.
- To enable local data logging and visualization of PV and environmental parameters.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Arduino and Raspberry Pi for hardware, integrated with sensors and serial communication.
- Employed an open-source web view platform (Emoncms) running on Debian OS for data manipulation, logging, and visualization.
- Connected field instruments to remote terminal units (RTUs) for data collection from PV array and inverter output, transmitted in JSON format to Raspberry Pi.
Main Results:
- The developed system successfully manipulates, logs, and visualizes PV and environmental data.
- Emoncms, with Emonhub, processed and displayed data on its WebView.
- Local data storage on the Raspberry Pi was achieved, with tested logging capabilities extending beyond 6 hours.
Conclusions:
- The designed open-source SCADA system provides a viable low-cost alternative for PV plant monitoring.
- The system offers a user-friendly dashboard for viewing data trends over extended periods, from hours to a year.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Power System Distribution
299
Power system distribution involves delivering electrical energy from power plants to consumers through a network of transmission and distribution systems. The process begins at power plants, where energy from coal, gas, nuclear, water, and wind is converted into electrical energy. These plants use three-phase generators, typically rated between 50 to 1300 MVA, with terminal voltages ranging from a few kV to 20 kV, depending on the size and age of the units.
The transmission system is designed...
The transmission system is designed...
299
01:21Electrical Systems
455
In electrical engineering, the analysis of networks composed of passive linear components — resistors (R), capacitors (C), and inductors (L) — is fundamental. These components are organized into circuits where the relationship between input and output can be analyzed using transfer functions. The transfer function of an RLC circuit, which relates the voltage across a capacitor to the input voltage, can be derived using Kirchhoff's laws.
To derive the transfer function, consider...
To derive the transfer function, consider...
455
01:07Electrical Power
3.1K
Electric power is the product of current and voltage, represented in units of joules per second, or watts. For example, cars often have one or more auxiliary power outlets with which you can charge a cell phone or other electronic devices. These outlets may be rated at 20 amps and 12 volts, so that the circuit can deliver a maximum power of 240 watts. Consider a 25 Watt bulb and a 60 Watt bulb. The conversion of electrical energy produces heat and light, while the kinetic energy lost by the...
3.1K
01:25Secondary Distribution
124
Secondary distribution systems provide electrical energy at the utilization voltage levels from distribution transformers to customer meters. Typical secondary voltages in the United States include 120/240 V for residential use, 208Y/120 V for residential and commercial use, and 480Y/277 V for industrial and high-rise commercial use.
In residential areas, 120/240 V single-phase, three-wire service is commonly used for lighting, outlets, and large appliances. Urban areas with high-density loads...
In residential areas, 120/240 V single-phase, three-wire service is commonly used for lighting, outlets, and large appliances. Urban areas with high-density loads...
124
02:47Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
58.3K
Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
58.3K
01:24Fast Decoupled and DC Powerflow
272
The fast decoupled power flow method addresses contingencies in power system operations, such as generator outages or transmission line failures. This method provides quick power flow solutions, essential for real-time system adjustments. Fast decoupled power flow algorithms simplify the Jacobian matrix by neglecting certain elements, leading to two sets of decoupled equations:
272