An Evaluation of LoRaWAN and WLAN for IoT-based Photovoltaic Microgrid Monitoring

This paper presents an evaluation of LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) and WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technologies for monitoring IoT-based photo-voltaic (PV) microgrid systems. The research assesses the effectiveness and applicability of these wireless communication technologies for gathering crucial data from photovoltaic systems. The study investigates the performance of performance of LoRaWAN and WLAN in various environmental conditions, particularly in urban areas. Key parameters such as latency, packet loss, RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication), and coverage are analyzed to understand their implications on the accuracy of data collection within photovoltaic microgrids. The Findings indicate different strengths and limitations of LoRaWAN and WLAN in transmitting vital information, highlighting LoRa's capability in long-distance communication with a coverage area of 74,102 square meters and WLAN's superiority in higher data transfer rates with a latency less than 0.1 second and the difference in latency between these two communication technologies is 0.85 seconds. However, LoRaWAN excels in stability with a packet loss of only 0.5% whereas a WLAN has a packet loss of 1%. However, the challenge persists in optimizing the signal strength, reducing interference and enhancing network coverage, especially in urban setups. This evaluation serves as a valuable reference for implementing efficient wireless communication systems in IoT-based monitoring of photovoltaic microgrids.