A Low-cost Reliable IoT-based Hybrid Renewable Energy System in Ecuador’s High Andean Region

This study validates a low-cost, reliable Internet of Things (IoT)-based hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) architecture designed to bridge the engineering gap of financial accessibility in remote, high-altitude regions. Deployed in the community of Chorrera Mirador, Ecuador (3,500 m.a.s.l.), the system addresses a daily demand of 606 Wh/day by integrating a 220 W solar panel and a 400 W wind turbine at a total implementation cost of USD 1,181.01. The technical novelty of this research lies in the successful substitution of expensive industrial-grade controllers with generic, mass-market microcontrollers (ESP32/ESP8266), providing a scalable monitoring and control layer at a fraction of the cost of traditional SCADA systems. We introduce and validate a ”software-defined reliability” approach, where automated IoT-based load-shedding protocols—processed via a cloud-based MATLAB logic—compensate for a reduced 100 Ah battery capacity, maintaining a Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) below 5%. Furthermore, the study quantifies the impact of the Andean environment on system performance, specifically identifying Mie scattering as the primary physical mechanism through which high relative humidity (>40%) attenuates solar irradiance and reduces PV power output by up to 16%. In addition to achieving an average daily energy surplus of 163 Wh for potential green hydrogen production, the system demonstrates a Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) that is highly competitive with international benchmarks. This study provides a replicable engineering roadmap for sustainable, data-driven electrification in geographically and economically challenging environments.

Climate change; Internet of Things; Renewable energy integration; Rural electrification

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