Ashesi Solar Monitoring Network (ASMONET): An IoT-Enabled Network for Ground-Based Soiling Measurements in West Africa.

Francis Aweenagua1, Stewart Isaacs2, Jeremiah Takyi1, Heather R. Beem1 1Ashesi University, Berekuso, --, Ghana /2Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States

There has been substantial growth in photovoltaic energy generation in the past few years. However, dust soiling can reduce the generation capacity, especially during the dry season (Harmattan) in many West African countries. Soiling impacts are often assessed using ground-based measurements; however, such systems are sparse or missing entirely in Africa, leaving gaps in understanding the true extent of soiling impact in the region. This work aims to improve solar data availability in West Africa by designing a network of ground-based, IoT-enabled PV sensor systems to be installed throughout the region. The system provides real-time and historical data on panel performance, air quality, weather conditions, and soiling mass accumulation, among others. Preliminary tests show effective collection of ground-based data and transmission to the cloud for remote access and analysis. This proves that the system can provide consistent ground-based data for analysis and insight generation.