AsmartenergymonitoringsystemusingESP32microcontroller
AsmartenergymonitoringsystemusingESP32microcontroller
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Article in e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering Electronics and Energy · June 2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.prime.2024.100666
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A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T
Keywords: Gaza’s electrical deficit has resulted in the rise of new energy suppliers that sell power from private generators at
ESP32 microcontroller higher prices. Consumers have challenges because they cannot tell whether their energy originates from the
Blynk platform utility or private generators, resulting in unexpectedly large bills owing to a lack of an electronic monitoring
Energy Monitoring
system. This study fills this gap by developing a low-cost IoT energy monitoring system that provides real-time
IOT
Smart grid
information on energy use (hourly, daily, and monthly) to assist consumers in managing their usage and ex
Energy meter penditures. An ESP32 microcontroller is used in the system to gather data from energy meters, analyze it, and
deliver updates to users via WhatsApp over a secure Wi-Fi connection via the Blynk platform. Experimental
findings show that the system accurately captures voltage, current, active power, and cumulative power con
sumption and transmits this information to customers in real time.
* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: [email protected] (H.J. El-Khozondar), [email protected] (Y.F. Nassar).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prime.2024.100666
Received 11 March 2024; Received in revised form 8 June 2024; Accepted 27 June 2024
Available online 28 June 2024
2772-6711/© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc-nd/4.0/).
H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
from the integration of Information and Communication Technologies automation is thought to be able to solve issues with power demand and
(ICT) into Energy Management Systems (EMSs). ICT integration is enhance the performance of electricity.
essential for influencing energy economics, increasing resourcefulness, The area of home energy management (HEM) has received a lot of
improving consumption efficiency, and guaranteeing grid stability, attention because of its potential for resource conservation. Residential
reliability, and scalability in power systems. [10,11]. This is especially energy usage presently accounts for around 22% of total national energy
true in the Middle East, where energy management has been demon demand [19]. Continuous technological advancements, such as lower
strated to benefit from ICT use [12]. Using ICT and AI methods for en costs for sensors, computation, and displays, as well as the widespread
ergy management in the residential sector can lead to more economical integration of device-level information processing and communications,
energy use [11]. The authors [11] suggest creating an intelligent energy have increased the market viability of HEM systems. This is bolstered by
management system that can regulate power flow within a networked an increased interest in electric demand response and the use of smart
grid in addition to controlling standalone microgrids. When time-of-use utility meters. Over the last decade, a slew of goods and businesses have
pricing is in effect, the system optimizes power flow, maintains system developed to capitalize on this burgeoning market. These range from
stability, and gives priority to load fulfillment and cost reduction. smart thermostats and power strips to centralized home automation
The system efficiently regulates energy production and consumption systems. Authors in [20] draw attention to the increasing challenge of
by incorporating multiple renewable energy sources, including micro rational energy use and environmental preservation. They highlight
hydro, wind, photovoltaics, fuel cells, and batteries. Significant cost and industrial systems, particularly production systems, as significant en
energy savings under time-of-use pricing are highlighted, along with the ergy consumers. European regulations and environmental concerns are
possibility to bring in extra money by selling extra renewable energy to driving the adoption of energy-saving measures in industrial settings.
the grid [13]. With its use of ESP32 technology, the Smart Energy Monitoring
Fig. 1 shows how the global market for energy management systems system provides a cutting-edge way to monitor and control energy use in
has grown significantly and how important it is. Forecasts indicate that a variety of settings. This system is essential for providing real-time data
by 2030, the market value will have surpassed US$ 153.62 billion. In and insightful analysis to optimize energy usage, especially in light of
2021, it surged to an impressive US$ 45.11 billion. The estimated the increasing demand for sustainability and energy efficiency. Its cen
compound annual growth rate of 14.55% from 2022 to 2030 is the main tral component, the ESP32 microcontroller, is renowned for both its
driver of this noteworthy growth. These numbers highlight the growing high performance and energy-saving qualities, guaranteeing a depend
importance of the industry and the worldwide trend toward the adop able and reasonably priced solution for both home and business use.
tion of energy management systems. The increasing understanding of Buildings consume a large amount of energy, frequently as a result of
the vital role energy management plays in optimizing resource utiliza electrical appliances being used inefficiently. Consequently, increasing
tion, advancing sustainability initiatives, and satisfying the world’s building energy efficiency has gained importance across a range of
growing energy needs is reflected in this pattern. [14]. management tiers. Occupancy sensors were the mainstay of traditional
In order to maintain supply-demand balance and optimize energy methods but installing them in urban buildings presented significant
source scheduling, an Energy Management System (EMS) is essential challenges. To overcome this issue, IoT technology is used to monitor
[15]. In order to ensure reliability, reference [16], highlights the critical and manage power consumption depending on work schedules and oc
role that power systems play in contemporary society as well as the cupancy patterns in the building [21].
significance of interconnected subsystems like computing, communica This method is consistent with the overarching objective of encour
tion, and control. The operation, dependability, and efficiency of the aging sustainable and responsible energy use by improving energy ef
grid are greatly impacted by the integration of these components. An ficiency while also simplifying energy management in urban contexts.
Internet of Things (IoT) framework is proposed as a means of managing [22] recommends Power Line Communication (PLC) technology for
home energy in the study reported in [17]. Through an IoT dashboard, controlling and monitoring household electrical equipment that is
users can access insights about their daily power usage, thanks to this powered by power lines. This enables appliances to be remotely
framework’s monitoring and transmission of home energy consumption controlled and monitored via the Internet using an integrated home
data to the IoT Cloud. The potential of Home Energy Management server with a web-based user interface. According to [23], real-time data
Systems to improve energy security and efficiency through the syn on energy use helps customers to take responsibility for their energy
chronization of multiple home devices, including entertainment and consumption, which aids in cost-cutting and sustainability efforts.
security systems, is emphasized in reference [18]. Technology for home In [24], the authors utilized a smartphone app coupled with Blynk to
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H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
track energy use on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. This technology creation of safe and robust cryptographic systems appropriate for the
also sends out reminders to encourage energy-saving activities. Refer quantum era.
ence [25] describes a configuration that uses the SCT-013–030 sensor In the context of internet-based energy management, it is critical to
and the ESP8266 NodeMCU V2 module to remotely monitor energy protect against side-channel attacks and choose between lightweight
usage in smart homes. An artificial neural network built inside the encryption and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Side-channel at
ESP8266 NodeMCU module recognizes anomalous energy usage trends tacks take advantage of inadvertent information leakage from physical
in appliances. implementations, putting important energy data at risk. Mitigation op
The Internet of Things (IoT) has a significant impact on the energy tions include careful cryptography design and countermeasures like as
sector by offering enhanced metering and monitoring technologies. masking or randomization procedures. Lightweight cryptography,
These systems integrate advanced control methods with smart meters, designed for resource-constrained IoT devices, provides efficiency and
necessitating two-way communication, intelligent equipment control, security, as opposed to AES, which delivers high security but may be less
and seamless network and user engagement. Utilizing IoT technology appropriate for such devices owing to complexity. The decision between
has the potential to transform the energy industry’s efficiency and them is based on application needs, hardware capabilities, and desired
improve user control of energy resources [26]. trade-offs. Overall, protecting energy management systems online ne
Several research, including [27-30], have examined IoT for energy cessitates paying attention to potential threats and selecting appropriate
management. Aashik et al. [27] addressed better energy monitoring in cryptographic algorithms based on unique requirements [34].
India’s urbanization and industrial expansion which resulted in Consumption statistics through the Blynk platform’s interface in the
increased energy demand. To address this, an IoT-based system using an suggested system is presented, which streamlined data transfer and
ESP32 microcontroller was developed. It allows users to monitor indi reception. This methodology is similar to that used in earlier studies [35,
vidual appliance power consumption, troubleshoot issues, and save 36], where the goal was to create models for tracking the amount of
historical data via a web application. In [28], the authors employed IoT electricity used by end users. In these models, the data gathering device
for energy analytics in contemporary companies, enabling thorough uses Internet of Things technology to send power usage statistics to the
monitoring of power usage and performance. The authors employed supplier’s Blynk server. The authors acknowledged the possibility of
Smart meters with IoT and Message Queuing Telemetry Transport human error when depending on data from traditional energy meters
(MQTT) protocols, an ESP32 microcontroller, and the Amazon Web that are manually read by people. As a result, using IoT and the Blynk
Services (AWS) cloud to continuously measure three-phase voltage, application was thought to be a worthwhile alternative. With this
current, and power. A web interface provides graphical data displays method, accuracy and convenience are increased as electrical power
and downloadable reports, thereby lowering human error and providing usage can be monitored online at any time and from almost any location.
a cost-effective solution for energy management. In previous studies, the authors of this current study realized there
Authors in [29] compares the power efficiency of two micro are lack of studies that connected smartphones applications to the sys
controllers, the ESP32 (LX6 core) and the ESP32-S3 (LX7 core), running tem to reach in real time to the users. Thus, this study presented a
machine learning models. It focuses on the benefits of cache memory comprehensive study that enable end users to get reading in real times
and vector instructions. The ESP32-S3 outperforms the ESP32 in power using phone applications that connected to AI system via platforms such
efficiency due to its advanced features. These findings are important for as blynk. This study aims to reduce human error emerged from using
designing low-power embedded systems for applications like IoT, traditional reading systems. Furthermore, it aims to help end user to
wearable devices, and edge computing. control their daily, monthly, and yearly usage of private source of
Anush et al. [30] create an automated home system with the ESP32 electricity.
microcontroller, which is well-known for its connection. The system
uses sensors (motion, temperature, humidity, and light) and actuators 2. Motivation for the system
(relays, servo motors, and light emitting diode (LEDs)) to control and
monitor home gadgets. The ESP32 functions as the central hub, The Gaza Strip has a serious electricity deficit, with the Gaza Elec
providing internet connectivity for remote access. Residents may control tricity Distribution Company (GEDCO) providing just four hours of
their homes, alter settings, schedule tasks, and get notifications via a power each day. This shortage has resulted in the establishment of
smartphone app or web interface. commercial energy suppliers charging much higher prices—eight times
In the context of energy management systems, encryption is essential more than GEDCO’s rates [37-41]. The cost of one kWh given by private
for protecting the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data, such as owners of electricity generators is $1.05, but GEDCO charges just $0.13
energy consumption patterns, user preferences, and device configura [42]. Despite using these alternatives, customers complain about high
tions. Encryption ensures that unauthorized parties cannot intercept or costs, which are aggravated by a lack of tools for efficiently managing
tamper with communication between IoT devices, cloud servers, and their energy use. To close this gap, this work provides an application for
mobile applications like Blynk, which are commonly used in energy monitoring and managing energy use from private generators. Users get
management solutions. This helps prevent data breaches, unauthorized control over activation timings, which are often during GEDCO outages
access, and manipulation of energy-related information [31,32]. or certain time periods. The suggested system automates generator
When post-quantum cryptography replaces ECC (Elliptic Curve activation based on user choices and establishes a maximum bill limit to
Cryptography) and RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) algorithms, it will prevent overcharging.
cause a seismic change in cybersecurity. This transformation will have
far-reaching consequences for a wide range of security applications, 3. Objectives of the work
from common devices like smartphones to complex blockchain net
works. The evolving cryptographic environment is being pushed by the a. Create a low-cost IoT energy-monitoring system to solve a major
imminent danger of quantum computers, which have enormous pro problem in monitoring two systems provided to the customers in
cessing capacity and can break standard encryption techniques. Post- Gaza.
quantum encryption provides strong solutions to quantum assaults, b. Provide users with real-time energy consumption data (hourly, daily,
protecting data secrecy and integrity in a quantum-powered future. This and monthly).
transformation necessitates substantial changes to current security in c. Help consumers manage their energy usage and expenses more
frastructures, cryptographic systems, and software implementations. effectively.
While preparing for this paradigm change, works such as [33] offers d. Use an ESP32 microcontroller to collect data from energy meters,
insight on the complexities of post-quantum cryptography, driving the evaluate it, and provide updates.
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H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
e. Create a secure Wi-Fi connection to send data using the Blynk with an ESP32 microcontroller. By establishing a Wi-Fi connection to the
platform. Blynk platform and delivering customized notifications to clients via
f. Accurately collect and transmit voltage, current, active power, and WhatsApp, this comprehensive mechanism empowers informed
cumulative power consumption data in real time. decision-making regarding energy consumption while keeping users
abreast of system-related developments. events.
4. Proposed monitoring system
The envisioned system aims to efficiently oversee and relay details 4.2. System taxonomy
concerning energy usage within a client’s home. Specifically tailored to
oversee and regulate electricity usage at the client’s premises, it in 4.2.1. Limitation in using Blynk
tegrates diverse elements to deliver instantaneous updates and enhance While the Blynk platform provides a robust and user-friendly inter
energy administration. This system epitomizes the practical integration face for energy management systems, several limitations need to be
of IoT into everyday living, addressing a critical issue in the local area. addressed:
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H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
1. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity: These features are crucial operation, the Blynk Server plays a crucial role in coordinating
for real-time data transmission and remote monitoring, and they are communication between smartphones and the system’s hardware com
included with the ESP32 microcontroller. The smart energy system’s ponents. The application’s interfaces are shown in (Fig. 3).
integrated connectivity facilitates smooth communication with other The proposed system’s interfaces can be divided into four main
systems and devices, allowing for effective data collection and sections:
analysis.
2. Minimal Power Consumption: Power efficiency is a vital component a. Reading Section:
of any monitoring system. Multiple sleep modes, one of the low- • Presenting pulse and energy readings on a daily and monthly basis.
power features built into the ESP32′s design, drastically cut down • Date and time in real time.
on power usage when the device is not actively transmitting data. It • Emphasizing the particular date in the month where the cost is to
is therefore perfect for uses where energy efficiency is crucial. be calculated.
3. High Processing Power: The dual-core processor of the ESP32 has • Monitoring the total energy and pulses since the start of the
enough processing capacity to manage intricate algorithms and data monitoring.
processing jobs. Accurately tracking and analyzing energy usage • Displaying the power usage as of right now.
patterns, spotting anomalies, and making real-time adjustments to • Displaying the price per KWh and the monthly energy expenditure.
optimize energy consumption all depend on this capability. Flexible • Providing the network name that is connected.
Peripheral Interfaces: b. Control Section:
4. The ESP32 is compatible with a wide range of peripheral interfaces, • Including sliders for limiting daily and monthly energy use.
including I2C, SPI, UART, DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), and • Using toggle buttons to enable or disable monthly and daily energy
ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter). By connecting the microcon consumption caps.
troller to various sensors and parts of the energy monitoring system, c. Visualization Section: putting charts of daily and monthly energy use
these interfaces increase the microcontroller’s adaptability and on display.
scalability. d. Status Indicators Section:
5. Cost-Effectiveness: The ESP32 is a viable option for broad imple • Making use of LED indicators to display the generator source’s
mentation in smart energy systems due to its lower cost when status (on or off).
compared to other microcontrollers with comparable capabilities. It • Using LED indicators to display the electric utility source’s status
offers a high return on investment because its low cost does not (on/off).
degrade its performance. • Using LED indicators to show the system output’s status (on or off).
6. Sturdy Development Ecosystem: The ESP32 boasts a robust devel • Offering gauges that show the daily and monthly energy
opment ecosystem that consists of an active community, a large se consumption.
lection of libraries, and thorough documentation. The deployment of
the smart energy system is accelerated by this strong support, which For a detailed overview of the control statuses, please refer to
speeds up development and simplifies troubleshooting. (Table 2).
7. Security Features: One of the main issues with smart systems is se In Table 2, when the line from the utility is on, the output is off.
curity. Data integrity and confidentiality are safeguarded during When utility and private generator are off, the output is off. The output
transmission and processing by the ESP32 thanks to its hardware is on in the cases where utility is off, the private generator is on and the
encryption and secure boot features. consumption does not exceed the limits identify by the customer.
In summary, the ESP32 microcontroller is an excellent choice for a 4.3.2. Hardware design
smart energy system monitoring solution due to its connectivity options, The hardware of the current design consists of three key components:
low power consumption, processing power, peripheral interface sup the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) as shown in Fig. 4, the energy meter, and
port, cost-effectiveness, robust development ecosystem, and built-in the battery as displayed in the final project design in Fig. 5. The PCB
security features. These characteristics make it well-suited for creating (Fig. 4) has a variety of components, including the ESP32 microcon
an efficient, reliable, and secure energy monitoring system [45]. troller, relays, a buzzer, optocouplers, capacitors, resistors, diodes,
transistors, and a 16 × 2 LCD screen, each of which serves a distinct role
4.3. System design within the system. Below is a breakdown of the roles of these
components:
The proposed system is divided into two distinct components: the
software part, elucidated in section 3.2.1, and the hardware part, • ESP32 Microcontroller: This serves as the central processing unit of
comprehensively detailed in section 3.2.2. the system, responsible for numerous tasks. It handles communica
tion with the Blynk application, performs read and write operations,
4.3.1. Software design (Mobile application interface) issues commands to control loads, LEDs, and buzzers. Additionally, it
A complete solution for the creation and administration of net reads pulses from the energy meter for energy calculation (for both
worked hardware systems is provided by Blynk. Numerous features are sources), sends data to the Blynk application via Wi-Fi, calculates
included in this solution, such as easy device setup, real-time alerts, energy usage, displays readings on the LCD screen, and sends noti
simplified automation procedures, firmware updates over-the-air, fications to WhatsApp, among other functions.
remote control via mobile and web interfaces, sensor data visualiza • Relays: These components are used to control the activation and
tion, strong cloud security measures, advanced data analysis capabil deactivation of electrical loads. Two relays are employed to accom
ities, and efficient user and access management. Blynk is a flexible IoT modate the two sources.
platform that runs on iOS and Android and is especially made to work • Buzzer: The buzzer provides audio feedback for various system
with online-connected devices such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and events, including startup, changes in the status of the electric utility
NodeMCU. By configuring and linking appropriate addresses to various source, generator source, and Wi-Fi connection loss.
available widgets, it essentially acts as a Human-Machine Interface • LEDs: LEDs are used to visually indicate the status of various system
(HMI) and streamlines the creation of graphical user interfaces. components, such as pulses, power supply levels (5 V and 12 V), relay
The flexible range of widgets offered by Blynk to create interfaces status, the status of the electric utility source, and the generator
within the suggested system is utilized. To ensure smooth and effective source.
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H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
• Optocouplers: Optocouplers are employed to isolate different cir company and form private generator. And three pins to hold wires
cuits, ensuring signal separation and protection. for the relay connections.
• LCD 16 × 2: The LCD screen displays monthly energy consumption in • Capacitors: Capacitors are used for voltage stabilization.
KWh and the associated cost in shekels. It serves as a backup display • Resistors: Resistors are employed to limit the flow of current.
in case of issues accessing data from the application. • Diodes: Diodes function as one-way switches for current, allowing it
• T Blocks: These connectors allow the connection of multiple wires to to flow in one direction while restricting reverse flow.
the circuit board, with two pins for inputs (pulses from the meter, • Transistors: Transistors act as switches in controlling the relays. A
power supply (5v, 12 v)), for the electric line form the utility voltages source that exists in the designed circuit.
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H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
In this discussion, the significance of real-time data processing and //from starting work of system
analysis in ensuring the effectiveness of energy monitoring initiatives energy Comsumed = pulse Count ∗ energy PerPulse; (6)
employing devices such as the ESP32 microcontroller and mobile ap
plications will delve. Real-time data processing holds paramount sig Price calculation:
nificance in energy monitoring applications for a multitude of reasons: To calculate the monthly and daily costs based on the energy
consumed, the price of kWh is utilize as determined by the owners of the
1. Timely Decision Making: Real-time processing furnishes immediate generators. Therefore, the prices are denoted as follows:
insights into energy consumption trends, empowering users to make Price KWH = 4ILS(Shekel)perkWh (7)
informed decisions promptly, thereby optimizing energy usage and
cutting down costs. Then, the formulas to calculate the monthly and daily costs are as
2. Early Anomaly Detection: Swift data processing facilitates early follows:
identification of abnormal energy consumption patterns, aiding in Monthlycost : price = energy Comsumed PerMonth ∗ Price KWH; (8)
the timely detection of potential issues such as equipment malfunc
tions or leaks. Dailycost : price Day = energy Comsumed PerDay ∗ Price KWH; (9)
3. Immediate Alerts: The capability for real-time processing allows for
the system to promptly issue alerts and notifications to users upon These formulas allow us to determine the monthly and daily costs
surpassing predefined thresholds, facilitating rapid responses to based on the energy consumed and the price per kWh.
prevent waste or emergencies.
4. Environmental Impact: Real-time monitoring enables organizations 7. Challenges and solutions
to mitigate their carbon footprint by pinpointing areas where en
hancements in energy efficiency can be implemented, thereby • Communication and data transfer issues:
directly contributing to environmental sustainability.
Communication and data transfer challenges: Encountering
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H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
intermittent internet connectivity issues posed a hurdle, where loss of c. Increased Costs: The scarcity of resources and the need to import
connection sometimes persisted despite attempts to reconnect. To components at higher costs due to the blockade significantly
address this, a code is developed that systematically checks the internet increased the financial strain on the project. The additional costs
connection at regular intervals, facilitating automatic reconnection further exacerbated the existing budget constraints, limiting the
without necessitating system restarts. ability to expand or enhance the system.
4. Reliance on Free or Low-Cost Tools: Given the financial constraints,
• Energy efficiency and battery management: the project heavily relied on free or low-cost tools and platforms.
While Blynk offered a user-friendly and accessible interface, the
In instances of battery depletion, system functionality halts, leading reliance on free services often meant dealing with limitations in
to communication loss and inaccuracies in power consumption calcu terms of scalability, data storage, and advanced analytics capabil
lations and data transmission to the microcontroller. To mitigate this, an ities. This reliance restricted the ability to fully explore and imple
electronic circuit capable of converting alternating voltage into a ment more sophisticated energy management solutions.
continuous one is devised, ensuring uninterrupted system operation
until the battery is recharged. Consequently, data integrity is preserved, These limitations highlight the critical impact of financial planning,
with error occurrences minimized to negligible levels. geopolitical factors, and platform stability on the development of tech
nology projects. Future endeavors should consider securing more robust
8. Limitations funding, evaluating the long-term viability of platform choices, and
developing contingency plans to mitigate risks associated with geopo
During the development and implementation of the energy man litical instability and resource limitations.
agement system using the Blynk platform, several significant limitations
were encountered: 9. Conclusion
1. Financial Coverage Constraints: The project was primarily funded by In this study, the traditional electricity meter is enhanced by inter
a group with limited financial resources. This financial constraint facing it with an ESP32 microcontroller, allowing for the calculation of
restricted the scope of the system’s development and implementa energy consumption based on the received pulses. Each pulse, equiva
tion. For instance, the ability to invest in more advanced hardware, lent to one kilowatt-hour, is meticulously tallied to determine daily and
additional sensors, or enhanced data storage solutions was limited. monthly energy usage, adhering to user-defined thresholds. Upon sur
Consequently, the system’s performance and capability may not fully passing these limits, an alarm is triggered, and electricity supply to the
reflect what could be achieved with more substantial financial house is automatically disconnected. Continuous monitoring of con
backing. sumption is achieved, with data visualized through graphical
2. Transition of Blynk from Free to Paid Services: At the inception of the representations.
project, Blynk offered a free tier that was sufficient for the initial Future enhancements could involve incorporating multiple electric
development and testing phases. However, during the course of the meters and integrating both utility and generator power sources. Pres
project, Blynk transitioned to a paid service model for certain fea ently, each user is equipped with a dedicated device, which might be
tures that were previously free. This unexpected change posed a cost-prohibitive for individual users. A potential future strategy involves
significant challenge: scaling up the system to accommodate more than 10 users, facilitating
a. Budget Overruns: The transition necessitated additional, un centralized installations in residential complexes, thus optimizing costs
planned expenditures to maintain access to essential features and and simplifying system maintenance in the event of technical issues.
capabilities of the Blynk platform. This resulted in budget over Furthermore, leveraging a GSM module in place of a WhatsApp server
runs, as the project had not allocated funds for software sub could enhance alert mechanisms in case of system failures. Table 1
scriptions or additional service fees.
b. Feature Limitations: Some advanced features that became part of 10. Recommendations for future work
the paid tier were critical for the optimal functioning of the energy
management system. The need to either pay for these features or For further studies and future work:
find alternative solutions led to delays and compromises in the
system’s functionality and efficiency. 1. Each user in the system is assigned a unique gadget, potentially
c. Disruption in Workflow: The sudden change disrupted the pro increasing prices for individual users. With over ten active users,
ject’s workflow, as the team had to reallocate time and resources extending the user base is recommended for cost savings, expedited
to address the financial implications of the new payment model. installation processes for residential buildings, and simpler system
This also led to a temporary halt in the project’s progress as maintenance during technical challenges.
alternative funding and cost-effective solutions were sought. 2. The next phase comprises implementing an automated mechanism
3. Impact of the Siege on Gaza: The geopolitical situation, specifically for salespeople to manage power distribution based on specific user
the ongoing siege on Gaza, significantly increased the burden on the requirements.
project group: 3. Emphasizing careful analysis of security concerns is critical for future
a. Resource Limitations: The siege resulted in severe restrictions on research and development.
the availability of essential resources, including hardware com
ponents, reliable internet access, and electricity. These shortages CRediT authorship contribution statement
directly impacted the ability to procure necessary materials and
maintain continuous operation of the energy management Hala Jarallah El-Khozondar: Writing – review & editing, Writing –
system. original draft, Validation, Supervision, Investigation, Conceptualization.
b. Operational Challenges: Frequent power outages and unstable Shady Y. Mtair: Validation, Software, Investigation, Data curation.
internet connections disrupted the development and real-time Khaled O. Qoffa: Writing – original draft, Project administration,
monitoring capabilities of the system. This instability required Formal analysis. Omer I. Qasem: Writing – original draft, Validation,
the team to devise alternative strategies to ensure minimal Resources, Data curation. Ahmad H. Munyarawi: Writing – original
downtime and maintain data integrity. draft, Methodology, Formal analysis. Yasser F. Nassar: Writing – re
view & editing, Validation, Resources, Formal analysis,
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H.J. El-Khozondar et al. e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy 9 (2024) 100666
Table 1
present the current System Taxonomy.
Category Component Current project Description ESP32 Based Electric Energy Automatic Energy Meter Using IoT
Consumption Meter [43] [44]
Hardware ESP32 A low-cost, low-power system on a chip with integrated Used ESP32 as the core processing unit, Used arduino uno to process data from
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth used to connect sensors and other indicating reliability and effectiveness in sensors and send it to Blynk, showing
hardware components to the internet. energy management applications. common use for IoT projects .
Sensor Devices that detect and measure physical properties (e.g., Uses SCT-013 current sensors and Employs SCT-013 current sensor and
voltage, current, energy consumption) and send this ZMPT101B voltage sensors for accurate ZMPT101B voltage sensor, standard
information to the ESP32 for processing. measurement of electrical parameters. in energy management systems.
Energy An electronic device that measures the amount of Integrates an energy meter setup using Measures and displays energy
Meter electrical energy consumed by a residence, business, or voltage and current sensors to compute consumption in real-time using
electrically powered device. energy. similar sensor setup.
Software Blynk An Internet of Things (IoT) platform with iOS and Android Utilizes Blynk to create a dashboard for Implements Blynk for visualizing data
apps to control Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and the likes over real-time monitoring of electrical from the energy meter.
the Internet. Used for the user interface and remote parameters.
monitoring.
Devices iPhone A smartphone used to run the Blynk app, providing a user Not specified, but Blynk app is Not specified, but Blynk app is
interface for monitoring and controlling the energy compatible with both iOS and Android compatible with both iOS and
management system. devices. Android devices.
Communication WhatsApp A messaging platform used for notifications and alerts Not mentioned. Not mentioned.
related to the energy management system.
Table 2
Output status.
GEDCO line Status (utility Private Generator line Limit switch/ Limit switch/ Consumed per day greater Consumed per month greater Output
company) Status day month than Limit than Limit Status
ON - - - - - OFF
OFF OFF - - - - OFF
OFF ON OFF OFF - - ON
OFF ON ON OFF Yes - OFF
OFF ON ON OFF No - ON
OFF ON OFF ON - Yes OFF
OFF ON OFF ON - No ON
OFF ON ON ON Yes Yes OFF
OFF ON ON ON Yes No OFF
OFF ON ON ON No Yes OFF
OFF ON ON ON No No ON
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Table 3
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405, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202340502013, 07/26. smart systems departments, Islamic University of Gaza,
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Conference on Electronics and Renewable Systems (ICEARS), 2022, pp. 446–451. her Ph.D. in physics from New Mexico State University
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of edge devices supporting ambient intelligence applications, Information 15 (3) University in 1987. She had a Postdoc award at Max Planck
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automation using ESP-32, Int. J. Res. Appl. Sci. Eng. Technol. (IJRASET) 12 (2024). department in Islamic University of Gaza. Further, she is
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management with iot framework in smart cities using intelligent analysis: an application Women in the Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and international center for
of machine learning methods for complex networks and systems. 2023. theoretical physics (ICTP). She is a member of selection committees for several scholar
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Management System with accurate forecasting and load strategy for renewable including but not limited to study plasmonic propagation, solar system problems, optical
generation, Measurement 152 (2020) 107187, https://doi.org/10.1016/j. fibers, optical communication, nonlinear optics, magneto-optical isolators, optical filter,
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C. Miller, D. Moody, R. Peralta, R. Perlner, A. Robinson, D. Smith-Tone, Status Humboldt-Stiftung Scholarship, and Erasmus Mundus. She earned several prizes including
Report on the Second Round of the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography TWAS medal lecture 2018 and ISESCO Prize in Science & Technology 2014. She is also
Standardization Process, Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards coordinator for several projects including TEMPUS for promoting long life learning, and
and Technology, 2021 [Online] Available, https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir renewable energy 4 Palestine funded by APPEAR 2017 to promote women performance at
/2020/NIST.IR.8309.pdf?ref=blog.cloudflare.com. electrical engineering department APPEAR funded by Austria.
10