Maximization of wireless sensor network lifetime using solar energy harvesting for smart agriculture monitoring

Abstract The wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are used for the real-life implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart agriculture, smart buildings, smart cities, and online industrial monitoring applications. Generally, traditional WSN nodes are powered by limited energy capacity, non-rechargeable batteries. The WSN lifetime (days) depends upon, duty cycle, type of application deployment, and battery state of charge (SoC) level. We propose an innovative solution to the limited energy availability design problem by utilizing the ambient solar energy harvesting for battery charging of WSN nodes. However, there are many challenges in solar energy harvesting like intermittency of available power, solar energy prediction, thermal issues, solar panel conversion efficiency, and other environmental issues. The objective of this research work is to maximize the WSN network lifetime using solar energy harvesting technique. From our simulation results, it is proved that the sensor network lifetime is increased from 5.75 days to 115.75 days @ 25% duty cycle and higher, ideally up to infinite network lifetime. Furthermore, the network throughput is also increased from 100 K bits/s to 160 K bits/s. in SEH-WSNs.