Temperature impact analysis on photovoltaic output power using an IoT-based wiper cooling system

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) performance is significantly affected by surface temperature and panel cleanliness, both of which influence energy conversion efficiency. Elevated temperatures reduce power output, while dust accumulation decreases effective solar irradiance. This study proposes an IoT-based integrated cooling and cleaning system as its main contribution, enabling real-time monitoring, intelligent control, and remote operation within a unified framework. The system utilizes an NTC 10K temperature sensor for continuous monitoring, while an ESP8266 microcontroller functions as the central controller for data processing, wireless communication, and web-based interfacing. When the panel temperature exceeds a predefined threshold (40–42 °C), The IoT-enabled system automatically activates a water pump and wiper mechanism to simultaneously reduce temperature and remove surface contaminants. Experimental results show a significant temperature reduction from approximately 41–43 °C to 30–33 °C. This improvement leads to an increase in voltage output of 0.5%–1.2% and current output of 3–6%, depending on load conditions. The cleaning mechanism further enhances irradiance absorption by maintaining panel surface clarity. These findings demonstrate that IoT integration enables adaptive and data-driven optimization of PV performance. The proposed system offers a practical and scalable engineering solution to improve efficiency, reliability, and long-term operation of PV installations in real-world applications.