Urja (ऊर्जा - “Energy”)

IoT-Based Smart Energy Monitoring and Control System

Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Odisha

Overview

Urja transforms household energy management by providing real-time monitoring and intelligent control of electrical consumption. Built on proven IoT architecture, it addresses critical problems like energy theft, improper power factor management, and unexpected blackouts through a seamless hardware-software ecosystem.

The system empowers users with granular insights into their energy usage patterns while offering predictive alerts and cost optimization—making energy efficiency accessible to both residential and industrial applications.

Tech Stack

Hardware: ESP32, PZEM-004T sensor, I2C LCD display
Backend: Firebase Cloud Database
Mobile: Flutter/Dart (Android/iOS)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Cloud-based data sync
Data Visualization: Real-time charts and historical analytics

Key Features

Core Monitoring

Real-time tracking of voltage, current, and power factor
Multi-device support with individual appliance monitoring
Dual operation modes: Offline local display + Online cloud sync
Historical data analysis with trend visualization

Smart Alerts & Control

Sudden consumption spikes detection and notifications
Power theft identification through anomaly detection
Blackout predictions based on consumption patterns
Bill budgeting with cost forecasting

User Experience

Clean mobile dashboard with intuitive energy insights
Graph/Table toggle for data preferences
Device categorization (Cooler, Heater, Bulb & Fan, Desktop)
Cloud-first architecture ensuring data persistence

Hardware Architecture

┌─────────────────┐    ┌──────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
│   PZEM-004T     │───▶│     ESP32        │───▶│   Firebase      │
│   Sensor        │    │   Controller     │    │   Cloud         │
│ (V,I,PF Monitor)│    │                  │    │                 │
└─────────────────┘    └──────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘
                              │                          │
                              ▼                          ▼
                       ┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
                       │   I2C LCD       │    │   Mobile App    │
                       │   Local Display │    │   (Flutter)     │
                       └─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘

Code Snippet: Sensor Data Processing

// ESP32 - Energy monitoring core
void readEnergyData() {
    voltage = pzem.voltage();
    current = pzem.current();
    power = pzem.power();
    powerFactor = pzem.pf();
    
    if(!isnan(voltage) && !isnan(current)) {
        // Local display update
        updateLCD(voltage, current, power);
        
        // Cloud sync if connected
        if(WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED) {
            sendToFirebase({
                "timestamp": millis(),
                "voltage": voltage,
                "current": current,
                "power": power,
                "pf": powerFactor
            });
        }
    }
}

How It Works

Data Acquisition: PZEM-004T sensor continuously monitors electrical parameters
Local Processing: ESP32 processes data and displays on LCD screen (offline mode)
Cloud Synchronization: Real-time data push to Firebase when internet available
Mobile Interface: Flutter app fetches cloud data for visualization and analytics
Smart Analysis: Algorithm detects anomalies, predicts issues, sends notifications

Screenshots

Dashboard Overview Main dashboard showing real-time energy consumption with device breakdown

Device Monitoring The hardware that does individual appliance tracking with historical data and power status

Addressing Real Problems

Problem	Solution
Energy Theft	Anomaly detection in consumption patterns
Poor Power Factor	Real-time PF monitoring with optimization alerts
Bill Shock	Predictive budgeting and consumption forecasting
Blackout Management	Early warning system based on grid patterns
Usage Awareness	Granular appliance-level insights

Future Scope

Machine Learning integration for predictive maintenance
Solar panel compatibility with bi-directional energy flow
Smart home automation with device control capabilities
Multi-premise support for commercial applications
Energy trading marketplace integration
Voice assistant compatibility (Alexa, Google Home)
Advanced analytics with seasonal pattern recognition

Sustainability Impact

Urja promotes energy consciousness through transparent consumption visibility, helping reduce carbon footprints while optimizing costs. The modular design ensures longevity and minimal electronic waste.

Built with ❤️ for sustainable energy management

Tags: IoT Energy Monitoring ESP32 Flutter Firebase Smart Home Sustainability

URJA: Smart Energy Monitoring Solution

Technologies