Published Paper Details:

The growing global demand for clean and sustainable energy has intensified research into efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesting systems. Embedded control and remote monitoring have emerged as key enablers for enhancing the performance, reliability, and autonomy of PV systems. This paper presents a comprehensive review of embedded solutions for solar PV energy harvesting, drawing insights from two major research directions. First, microcontroller-based solar tracking systems are examined, highlighting their role in optimizing the orientation of PV panels through feedback control, stepper motor actuation, and sensor integration to maximize solar irradiance capture [1]. Such systems demonstrate cost-effectiveness, stability, and improved energy yield compared to fixed collectors. Second, advances in embedded monitoring and control frameworks are explored, where modern embedded processors, wireless sensor networks, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, and cloud connectivity enable real-time data acquisition, performance analysis, and fault detection in decentralized PV plants [2]. These systems not only improve operational robustness but also reduce maintenance costs while supporting large-scale deployment. The review synthesizes design methodologies, hardware platforms, communication protocols, and control strategies reported in literature, while discussing trade-offs between cost, scalability, and energy efficiency. Finally, future perspectives are outlined, emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and hybrid renewable energy systems for advancing embedded control and monitoring in PV energy harvesting.