Wireless communication for a modular heliostat field.

The global demand for affordable renewable energy has driven Stellenbosch University's Solar Thermal Energy Research Group (STERG) to design and construct a modular heliostat field using their HelioPod technology. The next generation heliostat field will require a wireless communication network with sufficient capacity, range, throughput, and low latencies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of wireless communication within a CST field by means of practical tests aimed to determine the influence of interference, dense networks, and range on the network performance. An overview of the main limiting factors for wireless communication in a CST field are discussed and the network's software and hardware design are presented. Wireless communication is found to be a feasible option within a CST plant provided that care is given to place all nodes with line of sight to the access point and all neighboring networks operate in non-overlapping frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]