We have developed a small and low-cost system to monitor the power generation of each individual solar panel. The data transmitter of the monitoring system is very compact to be built into a junction box of a solar panel.

Information of power generation of each panel is sent via already installed direct current lines and is received by a receiver located near a power conditioner. Therefore, malfunctions of solar panels are expected to be found easily. The cost of a built-in transmitting device for each panel would be very low (i.e. less than a few dollars) when it is mass-produced. A consortium starts in 2011 for information exchange on this new monitoring system.