Design and Implementation of an IoT Cluster with Raspberry Pi Powered by Solar Energy: A Theoretical Approach
Noel Portillo
TL;DR
The paper addresses the challenge of energy-intensive data centers by proposing a solar-powered IoT cluster built on five Raspberry Pi 3 Model B devices, managed with K3s and Docker. It develops a theoretical energy model using a 200W solar array and a 100Ah battery to assess feasibility under varying workloads, and specifies a prototype with Ubuntu ARM64, an open-source stack, external SSD storage, and solar energy management. Energy consumption estimates and autonomy are provided for idle, moderate, and high-load scenarios, indicating potential viability for off-grid edge and cloud services. Real-world validation is acknowledged as necessary, but the work points to a sustainable, scalable alternative for distributed computing that could reduce reliance on traditional data centers and lower carbon footprints.
Abstract
This document presents the design and implementation of a low-power IoT server cluster, based on Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and powered by solar energy. The proposed architecture integrates Kubernetes (K3s) and Docker, providing an efficient, scalable, and high-performance computing environment. The cluster is designed to optimize energy consumption, leveraging a 200W solar panel system and a 100Ah lithium-ion battery to support continuous operation under favorable environmental conditions. Performance analysis was conducted based on theoretical inferences and data obtained from external sources, evaluating resource allocation, power consumption, and service availability. These analyses provide theoretical estimates of the system's operational feasibility under different scenarios. The results suggest that this system can serve as a viable and sustainable alternative for edge computing applications and cloud services, reducing dependence on traditional data centers. In addition to its positive impact on environmental sustainability by significantly reducing the carbon footprint, this solution also addresses economic concerns, as conventional data centers consume enormous amounts of energy, leading to increased demand on the power grid and higher operational costs.