“IoT-based evaluation of photovoltaic modules enhanced by different reflector materials”

Abstract

This study presents an integrated low-cost IoT-based evaluation framework assessment of photovoltaic (PV) modules enhanced using low-cost planar reflectors, supported by a custom IoT-based data logging system for real-time performance monitoring. Four identical 50 W mono-crystalline modules were deployed under outdoor conditions in Cairo, Egypt: one reference module and three modules equipped with aluminum foil, galvanized steel, and mirror reflectors. A dedicated ESP32-based monitoring unit was developed to continuously record voltage, current, electrical power, and module temperature with high temporal resolution. The results demonstrate that all reflector materials improved energy generation, with performance strongly dependent on reflector inclination. A 30° reflector angle yielded the highest overall enhancement, where the mirror reflector achieved a maximum increase of 21.2% in daily energy yield relative to the reference module. This improvement, however, was accompanied by an approximate 7 °C rise in module temperature, indicating a clear trade-off between optical gain and thermal loading. Galvanized steel reflectors offered moderate energy enhancement with reduced heating, while aluminum foil reflectors produced smaller gains but remain attractive due to their minimal cost and high availability. Overall, the findings confirm the suitability of simple reflector surfaces for boosting PV output in regions with high solar irradiance, and they validate the accuracy and robustness of the developed IoT-based monitoring system for continuous field evaluation.