IoT Smart Energy Grid

This guide will help you create an IoT-based Smart Energy Grid. The system will monitor and manage energy distribution to optimize usage and ensure grid stability. By integrating sensors and communication technologies, you can enhance the efficiency of the energy grid.

Components Required

• Microcontroller (e.g., Arduino, ESP8266, or ESP32)
• Energy meter (for measuring electrical parameters)
• Current and voltage sensors
• Relay module (for controlling power distribution)
• Temperature and humidity sensors (optional, for environmental monitoring)
• Wi-Fi or Ethernet module (for cloud connectivity)
• Cloud service account (e.g., ThingSpeak, AWS IoT, or Azure IoT)
• Power supply (for the microcontroller and sensors)

Setting Up the Hardware

Follow these steps to set up the hardware:

1. Connect the Energy Meter

   Wire the energy meter to the microcontroller to measure electrical parameters such as current, voltage, and power. This data will be crucial for monitoring and managing energy usage.

2. Integrate the Sensors

   Connect current and voltage sensors to the microcontroller to gather real-time data on energy consumption. If using temperature and humidity sensors, connect them to monitor environmental conditions.

3. Set Up the Relay Module

   Wire the relay module to control power distribution based on the data received from the sensors. The relay can be used to switch power on or off to different parts of the grid.

4. Connect to the Cloud

   Use a Wi-Fi or Ethernet module to connect the microcontroller to the internet. This will allow you to send data to a cloud service for monitoring and analysis.

5. Power the System

   Ensure all components are properly powered. Use a reliable power supply for the microcontroller and sensors.

Programming the Microcontroller

Write the code to read data from the sensors, control the relay, and send data to the cloud. Below is a basic outline of the code using Arduino IDE:

                #include <WiFi.h>  // For ESP32 or ESP8266
                #include <ThingSpeak.h>

                // Configuration
                const char* ssid = "YOUR_SSID";
                const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";
                const char* apiKey = "YOUR_THINGSPEAK_API_KEY";
                const int channelID = YOUR_CHANNEL_ID;

                // Define pins
                const int currentSensorPin = A0;
                const int voltageSensorPin = A1;
                const int relayPin = 5;

                void setup() {
                    Serial.begin(115200);
                    WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
                    while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
                        delay(1000);
                        Serial.print(".");
                    }
                    Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");
                    ThingSpeak.begin(client);
                    pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT);
                }

                void loop() {
                    float current = analogRead(currentSensorPin) * (5.0 / 1023.0);
                    float voltage = analogRead(voltageSensorPin) * (5.0 / 1023.0);

                    // Example calculation, replace with your own
                    float power = voltage * current;

                    // Control relay based on power
                    if (power > 100.0) {
                        digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW);  // Turn off
                    } else {
                        digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH); // Turn on
                    }

                    // Send data to ThingSpeak
                    ThingSpeak.setField(1, current);
                    ThingSpeak.setField(2, voltage);
                    ThingSpeak.setField(3, power);
                    ThingSpeak.updateChannel(channelID, apiKey);

                    delay(20000);  // Update every 20 seconds
                }
            

This code reads data from the current and voltage sensors, controls the relay based on power consumption, and sends the data to ThingSpeak. Replace the placeholders with your actual credentials and configuration details.

Setting Up Cloud Integration

To visualize and manage the data, integrate the system with a cloud service. Configure your cloud service to display energy consumption data and set up alerts or controls based on the received data.

Testing and Calibration

Test the smart energy grid system by monitoring energy consumption and verifying that the relay controls work as expected. Adjust the calibration settings and thresholds as needed for optimal performance.