Abstract
The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) has ushered in transformative changes across diverse sectors, notably the energy domain, spawning the innovative concept of smart grids. This research delves into the development and deployment of an IoT-based prototype smart grid system, aiming to augment energy efficiency, reliability, and management. The system integrates current and voltage sensors, coupled with an ESP32 microcontroller, enabling real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of the prototype electrical grid. Leveraging Google Firebase as a cloud service for storing real-time data (current, voltage, and power), the prototype includes an architectural model simulating industrial, commercial, and residential areas within a city. The model features illumination controlled by three output relays linked to the ESP32 via a 2N222 transistor. A grid control interface, developed with JavaScript and React, interfaces with the Firebase real-time server to manage relay states. This interface empowers a distribution company to remotely designate powered sections, mimicking scenarios like sectional maintenance or compulsory load shedding. The collaborative effort in mini-grid design underscores the efficiency gains achieved through IoT implementation in conventional electrical grid systems, emphasizing time and labor savings in energy management.