PV Energy Generation and IoT Power Consumption for Telecom Networks in Remote Areas

Abstract

Nowadays, electrical grids are using information and communication technologies for providing intelligence in electrical grids, since alternative energy sources are increasing to meet the world’s energy consumption demand. Interest in Internet of Things (IoT) is lastingly growing and may involve more data-sensitive projects when applied in smart micro-grids (SMGs), and security is a priority to be ensured for power distribution and consumption. Moreover, standards for IoT platforms should be optimized for monitoring such consumption and controlling grid resources, which present more demanding challenges. In such context, this work aims to adopt an appropriate PV-based energy generation system feeding a remote telecom network (RTN), via evaluating its performance, and monitor a related smart micro-grid (SMG) to offer a secure and energy-efficient management for RTNs. Simulink simulations have proved DC/DC converters as the best choice for future telecoms applications by using PV systems. Boost converters reveal to be suitable for PV systems while optimizing a fewer transformers electric energy conversion. A focus is also on how to detect and counteract attacks to prevent power theft/loss while feeding RTNs, showing that the best security choice is the use of Snort to prevent from inside net LAN, and ASA firewall to obstruct attacks from outside.