Sustainable power supply system using solar PV for volcanic activities monitoring

• Main Author: Tan, Stefan Alexander Zi Fan
• Other Authors: Li King Ho, Holden
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Earth and Environmental Sciences; Engineering; Solar; Photovoltaic; Volcano; Monitoring; Renewable; Energy
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/176488
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Seismic monitoring systems for volcanic activities are typically deployed in isolated areas. The best of seismic volcanic sites are generally located away from roads, rivers, cities, and human activity (Sinambela et al., 2020). Thus, powering seismic monitoring systems via the electrical grid might prove to be difficult and unreliable. This paper investigates the viability of utilising solar photovoltaic (PV) technology as a sustainable and cost-efficient option for powering such a seismic monitoring system. The research analyses the unique difficulties of providing electricity to sensor systems in off grid volcanic regions, which includes high energy requirements and erratic weather conditions. The content examines how solar PV solutions might tackle these difficulties by evaluating factors including system design and energy storage choices. The findings in this report demonstrates that solar PV solutions are a practical and advantageous option for powering seismic sensor systems in distant, off-grid volcanic areas where deployment is intended. The research ends by detailing the takeaways from the findings, and recommendations to consider when installing solar PV solutions for seismic monitoring systems based on the findings of this Final Year Report.