In photovoltaic (PV) power plants, meteorological conditions such as solar irradiance, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction directly impact power generation efficiency and equipment lifespan.

Solar irradiance determines the output power of PV modules.
Wind speed and direction affect the safety of mounting structures and the power plant.
Ambient temperature and humidity influence the stability of PV modules and inverters.

Therefore, PV plants require a real-time weather monitoring system to transmit on-site data to the control center for power prediction, operational maintenance, and intelligent scheduling.

Traditional solutions often rely on single sensor data collection with data loggers, which have limited functionality and poor scalability. In contrast, ARM-based embedded gateways enable multi-source data integration, protocol conversion, and remote communication, significantly enhancing monitoring capabilities.

System Architecture

Hardware Components:

Meteorological sensors: Solar irradiance, temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, air pressure, and rainfall.
PV array component temperature sensors.
ARM-based embedded industrial gateway (e.g., ARMxy BL370 series).

Network and Communication:

Local access: RS485/RS232, analog signals (4–20mA/0–10V), digital signals.
Protocol support: Modbus RTU/TCP, IEC 104, MQTT.
Uplink transmission: Ethernet, 4G/5G, WiFi.

Software Functions:

Data acquisition and local storage.
Protocol conversion and edge computing (e.g., irradiance-based power prediction, wind speed threshold alerts).
Web/APP visualization.
Cloud platform integration (SCADA, energy management systems, maintenance platforms).

Functional Implementation

Real-time Data Collection and Integration: The gateway simultaneously connects multiple meteorological sensors and PV component data, ensuring accurate and complete data.
Edge Computing: Local processing of meteorological parameters, including:
- Calculating theoretical power output based on irradiance and module efficiency.
- Triggering safety alerts for wind speed exceeding thresholds.
- Predicting equipment aging risks based on temperature and humidity anomalies.
Remote Monitoring: Data is uploaded via 4G/5G to the maintenance platform, supporting remote queries, report generation, and predictive analysis.
Protocol Conversion: Supports mainstream industrial protocols for seamless integration with inverters, PLCs, and SCADA systems.
Local Redundant Storage: In case of network interruptions, the ARM gateway caches data to prevent loss.

Application Value

Improved Power Prediction Accuracy: Combines meteorological data with PV power models to optimize grid scheduling.
Enhanced Equipment Safety: Monitors wind speed, temperature, and humidity to provide early warnings for extreme weather risks.
Reduced Maintenance Costs: Remote data monitoring and diagnostics minimize manual inspections.
High Reliability and Flexibility: ARM embedded gateways offer low power consumption and wide temperature operation (-40°C to 85°C), suitable for outdoor PV plant environments.

Summary:

The application of ARM embedded gateways in weather monitoring for PV power plants enables real-time data collection and transmission. Through edge computing and protocol conversion, it provides intelligent monitoring capabilities, helping plants improve power generation efficiency, ensure operational safety, and provide robust data support for smart grids and renewable energy management.