E[co]ast: Make an Accessible Low-Cost Coastal-Driven Power Storage System for Environmental Monitoring

PCB
Solar Panel
Sustainability
Spring 2025

The E[co]ast project is designed to provide a portable, self-sustaining renewable energy system for powering environmental sensing equipment, electronics, and art installations at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. Intended for field use, the system eliminates reliance on external power sources by harnessing energy from solar and wind. Key technologies implemented include a power combining PCB that utilizes a solar panel and wind turbine, and proper cell balancing of four 3.2V LiFePOâ‚„ cells for safe and stable energy storage. An Adafruit Feather M0 microcontroller collects real-time voltage and current data and controls safety relays. The power system also integrates a 5V and 12V DC output and an inverter for all of our project partners' power needs. Notable accomplishments are the successful integration of renewable energy sources, a weather-resistant junction box weighing under 40 pounds, and the achievement of the target energy output of 80 Wh per day. Future improvements include adding a dedicated battery enclosure for better thermal management and weight distribution, and developing a graphical user interface (GUI) for more intuitive data visualization.

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Awards

Artifacts

Name Description
Project Poster E[co]ast Project Poster for ENGR Expo   Download
Executive Summary Project Description   Download
Project Summary Video Project Showcase Video   Link
Project Document Project Documentation   Download
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