Techno-Economic Comparison Based on Experimental Setup of Spherical and Flat Photovoltaics with IoT Monitoring System

This paper presents an experimental investigation of a spherical photovoltaic (SPV) system enhanced with an integrated paraboloid reflector and monitored via an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The SPV's omnidirectional geometry enables improved light absorption from multiple angles, maximizing energy capture throughout the day and under diverse weather conditions, particularly in extreme climates such as in Qatar. A prototype was developed using photovoltaic cells mounted on a 30 cm diameter spherical frame, paired with a reflector constructed from Styrofoam covered with mini glass mirrors. Performance was benchmarked against a conventional flat photovoltaic (FPV) panel with an equal number of cells. Real-time IoT monitoring captured voltage, temperature, and irradiance data, enabling precise performance evaluation. Results demonstrate that the SPV system achieved a 32.2% higher weekly energy output than the FPV panel, with reflector-assisted gains ranging from 14.8% to 39.7%. The SPV operated at 8-12 °C cooler, producing more stable voltage outputs (24-28 V vs. 17-25 V). Additionally, the design reduced dust accumulation by 27% and required ~35% less installation area per watt. IoT integration facilitated automated monitoring and alerts for critical conditions such as overheating (>50 °C) or voltage drops (<12 V). These findings highlight the SPV system as a compact, efficient, and intelligent solution for next-generation solar energy harvesting in urban and extreme-environment applications.