Rwanda's Renewable Energy Labs Get Open-Source Cloud Boost

Researchers within the GREATER Erasmus+ framework designed and deployed an open-source IoT cloud architecture in renewable-energy Living Labs in Rwanda. The system addresses challenges faced by academic and community projects sustaining distributed renewable-energy systems, such as high cloud-service fees and reliance on proprietary platforms.

The architecture utilizes tools like Docker, Node-RED, and MySQL, incorporating a novel middleware layer to enable multi-tenant management. This allows for shared infrastructure while maintaining data separation and controlled access for different Living Labs and user roles.

Deployed in real-world settings, the platform currently supports applications including photovoltaic monitoring, solar irrigation, and community energy services. Evaluations indicate the architecture can function effectively on modest local infrastructure, offering a potential model for resource-constrained environments.