Web-Based Two-Way Electricity Monitoring System for Remote Solar Mini-Grids
Abstract
Electricity usage monitoring systems play a vital role towards raising energy utilization awareness for
consumers. Existing solar mini-grid infrastructure, however, lacks a user-friendly two-way platform to allow
consumers to access information about electricity consumption. This paper proposes a cloud-based, two-way
energy usage monitoring system that will allow both utility companies and consumers to access energy
consumption data in a user-friendly way through a web platform. The system requirements were collected
via questionnaires, interviews, and observations conducted at two solar mini-grids centres located at Arusha
and Kilimanjaro regions in Tanzania. The system uses a Low Power Area Network (LPWAN) and the
existing GPRS network to monitor electricity consumption data between smart meter units and the cloud
server. Also, a virtual bill payment module and usage status feedback functionality have been integrated into
the system to increase awareness of the cost-effective use of electricity and hence, achieve the sustainability
of solar mini-grids. By using both white-box and black-box system testing approaches, findings show that the
system will not only raise awareness among customers about the economical usage of electricity, but it can
also be used by mini-grid companies as a source of data to determine current and future energy demands to
minimize large investment costs.