Solar‐powered sensors: a review of products and applications

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the technology and applications of solar‐powered sensors.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a short introduction, this paper first considers photovoltaic technology and then describes a selection of solar‐powered sensors and their applications.FindingsIt is shown that solar‐powered sensors may be used as nodes in wireless sensor networks and also as stand‐alone devices. They offer a number of key operational and economic benefits and find applications in such diverse fields as structural and environmental monitoring, traffic management, weather forecasting, agriculture, process control, gas detection, satellite remote sensing and healthcare.Originality/valueThe paper illustrates the important role that solar‐powered sensors and systems play in a wide range of applications and industries.