Global Air Pollution

Global Air Pollution

About

This time we focus on our world. The increasing need for energy and transportation with the rapid development of technology leads governments and people to make wrong decisions. In this analysis, we will talk about how these decisions will be replaced by the right ones. This analysis was made to raise awareness of people and to show how serious the situation actually is. In addition, although many factors cause air pollution, we will only consider energy production and transportation in this analysis.

Tools & Dataset

The dataset we need is available on Kaggle. However, since the dataset was updated a few months ago, the existing dataset was removed from the site. That's why I uploaded the dataset to the internet and shared it with you.

Tools

Excel: Data gathering

Microsoft SQL Server: Data cleaning and data analyzing

Tableau: Data visualization

Dataset

Global air pollution

Electricity generation with fossil fuels

Electricity generation with renewables

Electricity generation with solar energy

Electricity generation with wind energy

Electricity generation with hydropower

Clean

When I examined the dataset, I did not encounter any serious problems. I had 250 duplicate data in my dataset. I got rid of this data using Excel's remove duplicates feature. Also, the Country and City columns had null values. These values will be excluded as they will not contribute to our analysis. Therefore, we can quickly move on to the cleaning phase.

You can reach my codes in here.

Note: In this dataset, almost all cities have 5 or 6 records. Since these records may mislead our analysis, we will continue our work in this way by averaging all our records.

Thinking about dataset

Let's move on to our analysis. Our dataset has 5 numeric columns. Let's examine these columns carefully:

AQI Value: This column represents an overall value for countries and cities. It has to do with other columns. We will use this column to sort by country.

CO AQI Value: This column gives information about the carbon monoxide rates of the cities. When we look at the definition and effects of carbon monoxide, it is a gas that is released as a result of the combustion or incomplete combustion of fuels containing carbon in its structure.

Ozone AQI Value: While this gas occurs naturally in the stratosphere, it is harmless. However, its release in the troposphere is extremely dangerous for human health. Of course, this gas is also released due to the burning of fossil fuels.

NO2 AQI Value: It is formed by the release of solid or liquid fuels at high temperatures. It affects the respiratory tract.

PM2#5 AQI Value: These particles result from the burning of fossil fuels and are known as particles smaller than 2.5 microns. It has effects on the lungs and even the circulatory system.

* I would like to state that I will create my analysis specifically from the AQI Value and AQI Category columns. However, other columns will not be deleted from the data set, as they form a general idea and people who want to access these values.

Now that we know our dataset, it's time to think about it. Fossil fuels are the cause of every gas and particle released. We clearly see that fossil fuels are a very serious danger to our world. We can divide the areas where this danger is used into two parts: energy and transportation. We will focus on these two topics in my analysis.

Before moving on to our analysis, I would like to see the countries with the worst and best AQI values. This will facilitate our analysis and the insights we will generate.

We see that wherever there is bad air condition, India ranks first. When we focus on good air value, Brazil ranks first with 1,178. This may be due to the abundant forests in Brazil. However, we should not focus only on forests. Another important point is how often renewable energy is used, especially for electricity generation, in the future.

Transportation

As you know, we have divided the cause of environmental pollution into two main items. Now let's start with our first item, transportation.

We have two options to prevent pollution in transportation: Public transport and electric vehicles. First of all, I want to talk about public transportation.

To reduce environmental pollution, choosing public transportation is one of the most logical options to choose. Countries should take incentives to increase the use of public transport. Providing high quality and fast transportation services to people deters them from going to their destination with their private vehicles. The sustainability of these mass vehicles will also contribute to the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels, which is the most important problem of our analysis. The fact that these vehicles are easily accessible and switching to another public transportation vehicle without much effort will significantly increase the use of vehicles. In addition, people living in cities that are active almost every hour of the day may need transportation at any time. A 24-hour public transportation facility will be a type of transportation that people will often prefer. Let's get to pricing. In my opinion, making a serious reduction in public transportation prices or making it free instead of increasing fuel prices in order to reduce the use of private vehicles will significantly reduce the use of private vehicles.

It would be a big mistake to ignore the above items and only focus on pricing. We see the biggest example in Estonia. The free public transportation services that have been going on for almost 10 years in Tallinn have pushed people to use private vehicles more.

Mari Jüssi

“What we actually saw in Tallinn was that the shift from public transport to cars went up."

Another example is from Germany. Offering transport tickets for just €9 per month in June, July and August, the German Parliament received complaints from its passengers about overcrowding and a lack of staff.

In addition to all these, it switched to completely free public transportation in Luxemburg. The words of the Deputy Prime Minister of Luxemburg also support our thoughts.

François Bausch

“If you don't have a complete vision, a new strategy, and if you don't have an investment programme on which you show that you improve the connections, that improve the quality of the public transport, then only introducing free public transport is not a good idea."

Another solution for transportation is electric vehicles.

As it is known, electric vehicles can be described as environmentally friendly because they have almost no emissions. Of course, as in public transportation, countries should be encouraged in this area as well. Our biggest example in this regard is certainly Norway. The advantages of the Norwegian Government to promote electric vehicles have pushed Norwegian citizens to use electric cars. This situation is also reflected in the data we have. There is more than one development in this field that makes us smile. Some European countries have taken the promotion of electric vehicles very seriously. In addition, most car brands claim that they will only produce electric vehicles after the dates they set.

Another topic I want to talk about is micromobility. If you live in a small city and the weather is good in your city throughout the year, it is the most fun, cheapest and most environmentally friendly method to choose. Most developed countries have supported micromobility for a long time. Even building roads that only cyclists can use is actually a great indicator of resistance to environmental pollution. In addition, the increase in electric scooters recently will allow you to go to the place you want to reach faster. A little warning: Please do not neglect to use your protective equipment.

Energy

You've probably heard that fossil fuels are used not only for fueling vehicles, but also for electricity and heating needs.

Heating

The world uses fossil fuels for heating. This is a known fact. However, we can overcome this big problem with renewable energy. Heat pumps, whose name we have heard frequently lately, heat our homes and buildings using renewable energy (air, water and soil). Thanks to this environmentally friendly method, we can stop using fossil fuels for heating.

Electricity production

Thermal power plants used in electricity generation cause serious damage to the environment by using fossil fuels containing coal in their structure. When these fuels are burned, harmful gases, which we call greenhouse gases, come out. These gases harm both our atmosphere and our health. In the visualization below, you can see to what extent countries prefer fossil fuels for electricity generation.

From fossil fuels

Especially the gulf countries and the majority of the Asian continent prefer fossil fuels for electricity generation.

There is only one way out of this problem: To choose renewable energy for electricity production.

When we did some research, we saw that the most common renewable energies are;

Solar energy
Wind energy
Hydroelectricity

In addition, when we look at the electricity production rates of countries using renewable energy, we can observe that especially the Scandinavian countries and some African countries leave a large share of renewable energy in electricity production.

From renewables

Some countries on the African continent, Canada, Greenland and the majority of South American countries prefer renewable energy for electricity production.

Electricity production with solar energy:

Solar energy is a renewable energy source obtained by using the light from the sun. Solar panels collect solar energy using photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electrical energy. This electrical energy can then be used in homes, businesses and industrial facilities.

Obtaining solar energy is environmentally friendly and reduces carbon emissions compared to other energy sources. Also, access to solar energy sources is important for rural communities with limited access to energy. Solar power can also help with energy independence and long-term cost savings.

Solar energy is available in an infinite amount on earth and everyone has access to sunlight. Therefore, the use of solar energy can reduce inequality in access to energy resources and provide a sustainable source of energy for future generations.

Also, after a little research on the internet, I saw that the efficiency of the solar panels belonging to the SunPower Maxeon series is 22.7%. During my insights, I will give examples of solar energy with the solar panels of the SunPower Maxeon series.

From solar energy

It can be easily understood from our map that countries do not make much use of solar energy during electricity production. Ratios such as 1% - 2% are quite small and do not contribute much. Especially when we look at more developed and developing countries, we see that these rates increase to 4%, but this is not enough either.

Electricity production with wind energy:

Wind energy is a form of renewable energy that is generated by harnessing the power of wind to produce electricity. This is typically done using wind turbines, which are large structures that have blades that spin when the wind blows. The movement of the blades is then converted into electrical energy that can be used to power homes, businesses, and other structures.

Wind energy is obtained by placing wind turbines in areas with strong and consistent winds, such as coastal regions, mountaintops, or open plains. The turbines are designed to capture the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into electrical energy through the use of generators.

Wind energy is an important source of renewable energy because it is clean, abundant, and does not produce harmful greenhouse gas emissions or other pollutants that contribute to climate change. It is also becoming increasingly cost-effective, making it a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels for generating electricity. Additionally, wind energy can help to reduce dependence on foreign oil and create jobs in the renewable energy sector.

In addition, when we do some research, the wind turbine with the largest generation capacity is 10 MW owned by MHI Vestas joint venture. I will illustrate my insights on wind energy with this wind turbine.

From wind energy

When we look at the Americas, Western Europe and East Asia, we can see that wind energy is used extensively for electricity generation. This is good news, but we also need to look at hydropower rates.

240571-landscape-wind-turbine-wind-farm-and-wind-power-hd.jpg

From hydropower

Electricity production with hydropower:

Hydroelectric power is a form of renewable energy generated by harnessing the power of moving water. This is done by building dams on rivers, which create reservoirs of water that can be released to drive turbines and generate electricity. The force of the water turns the blades of the turbine, which then spins a generator to produce electricity.

Hydroelectric power is a clean and reliable source of energy that does not emit greenhouse gases or other pollutants. It is also a renewable energy source, as the water used to generate electricity is constantly replenished by natural processes such as rainfall and snowmelt.

Additionally, hydroelectric power plants can be used for a range of purposes, from generating electricity to providing water for irrigation, flood control, and recreational activities. Overall, hydroelectric power is an important part of the energy mix and has the potential to play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.

As a result of a little research I did, I learned that the hydroelectric power plant with the largest capacity in the world is the Three Gorges Dam in China. While this dam has a maximum power capacity of 22,500 MW, it produces approximately 100 TW of electricity per year.

It is quite clear that Scandinavian countries, most of the African continent, a certain part of South America, Canada and Greenland use hydroelectric energy in a very high amount.

Summary & Insights

The biggest problem of this world we live in is definitely pollution. Now that we have completed our analysis, all that remains is to share our insight. It should not be forgotten that there are many reasons for air pollution. In this analysis, we only talked about transportation and energy production. Now I have decided to divide our insights into 3 parts.

Transportation
Energy
Public awareness

Transportation

Public transportation: In fact, we have explained the key points of a quality public transportation service. But we must mention it once more. Poor quality, a slow transportation service, non-environmental transportation vehicles, a complex structuring and pricing policy are the main reasons for the overuse of public transportation services. Countries should introduce high-quality and electrified public transport vehicles as soon as possible. In this way, our three big problems will be eliminated. Sustainable public transportation vehicles will lead people to be even more environmentally friendly. In addition, electric vehicles provide faster transportation. In this way, only two more simple obstacles will remain in front of people to stop using individual vehicles and turn to public transportation. These are also an excellent infrastructure service and pricing policy. Infrastructure and superstructure services to be created by ministries and municipalities will create fully active and environmentally friendly cities by maximizing the availability of public transportation. Instead of focusing only on pricing policies, as I mentioned above, it is necessary to take the case in its entirety.

Electric vehicles: State support and incentives for electric vehicles can completely prevent air pollution from transportation. In this area, I will only share with you the program prepared by the Norwegian Government to promote electric vehicles. By implementing such incentives for electric vehicles, Norway has become one of the countries with the highest rate of electric vehicle use worldwide.

Electric vehicles are exempt from tax: All electric vehicles sold in Norway are exempt from purchase tax and VAT. This makes the purchase cost of electric vehicles more affordable than petrol and diesel vehicles.
Free access to charging stations: The Norwegian government provides EV drivers with free charging station access. Free charging stations, although not very common in Norway, are available in many public places.
Tax exemption for bus companies: Bus companies in Norway are exempt from purchase tax when purchasing electric buses.
Private parking for owners of electric vehicles: Norwegian municipalities allocate private parking spaces for owners of electric vehicles. This gives electric vehicle owners more convenience in parking.
Tax incentives: Norwegian businesses can get tax breaks when purchasing electric vehicles. They can also enjoy tax benefits for electric vehicles.
Access lanes for electric vehicles: Norwegian highway authorities allocate special access lanes for electric vehicles. This allows electric vehicle drivers to move faster through traffic.

Energy

(Note: In the examples we will give for electricity generation, we will share our ideas over a non-existent country and consider the population of this country as 10 million. In addition, the annual electricity consumption of each of the people living in this country will be considered as 10,000 kWh.)

Solar energy: In the visualizations we made, we realized that electricity generation with solar energy is not one of the areas that countries support and invest a lot. Values such as 1% - 4% are quite low. However, I would like to make an analysis on this area. It should be noted that the values I will give shortly are estimates and may change due to the power, maintenance and climatic conditions of the solar panels.

We clearly see that meeting the electricity needs of a large population with solar panels is very costly and requires a lot of space. We can now more easily understand the reason why countries use solar energy so little.

Wind energy: Let's come to wind energy. We have seen that this type of renewable energy is widely used in electricity generation. In some countries, we saw that these rates increased to 60%. In this example, we will talk about the MHI Vestas wind turbine.

It is clear that meeting the electricity needs of a country with a population of 10 million with wind energy is less costly and takes up less space than solar energy. However, it should be noted that this is just a simple mathematical calculation. Things may not always be as perfect as in theory. The actual number may be higher or lower as this calculation does not take into account the wind speed, consumption patterns and other factors of the location where the turbines will be located.

Hydropower: When we look at hydropower, we can see that some of the countries in Africa use this renewable energy intensively, while Asian countries stay away from hydropower a little. Let's take a look at the reasons for this. I mentioned that the hydroelectric power plant with the largest capacity in the world is the Three Gorges Dam in China. We will give this example over the values of this dam.

We see that the Three Gorges Dam alone is sufficient to meet the electricity needs of this imaginary country with a population of 10 million. However, it should not be forgotten that there are currently no lakes or rivers, especially in the Gulf countries. In addition, the same production capacity cannot be expected from each river or lake. The flow of the river, the performance of the turbines installed on the dam, the need and maximum power capacity will not always be as perfect as in theory. This is just an analysis we performed with the data we have.

During electricity generation, we saw that each renewable energy has its own advantages. The advantages brought by solar energy may differ from wind power or hydroelectric dams.

Solar: It will be very costly for countries to produce electricity entirely with solar energy and a very low area is needed. What I can suggest for this is that small settlements or villages should use solar panels to generate their own electricity. In addition, people can provide electricity to their own building or apartment by installing solar panels on the roofs of their houses. In this way, they will produce electricity at low cost.

Wind: In our analysis, we realized that a country with a sample population of 10 million needs 48 - 50 km² to meet its electricity needs entirely from wind energy. In addition, this population will need approximately $30.000.000.000 to meet their electricity needs. This will be less costly and require less space than purely solar power generation. However, it should be reminded that electricity production values vary depending on many factors.

Hydropower: Finally, we can talk about hydroelectric dams. In the example we gave, the dam was built on China's largest river. So a dam with this power capacity may not be built on every river. The power capacity may decrease or increase due to the size of the river, the flow rate, the performance of the turbines and for many reasons. However, when compared to other renewable energies, its cost is almost equal to wind energy, but considerably lower than solar energy.

Public awareness

In order to prefer renewable energy, it is necessary to raise public awareness. This will happen in 3 ways:

Community trainings: Education should be given to the societies by the states. These trainings should present us with hard truths from time to time. People should be shown the worst possible scenario. The worst-case scenario, which is also the subject of my analysis, is definitely air pollution. The damage caused by air pollution on our health should be explained to the society. In the future, diseases that may occur due to air pollution and the difficulty of their treatment, that these diseases will be struggled for years, and deaths due to these diseases should be explained. If there's anything more important than incentives and rewards right now, it's the health of living things. I think that advertisements advocating renewable energy wherever we come across will lead to a change in societies.

Incentives: All kinds of incentives by states to citizens will awaken them to prefer renewable energy. These incentives can basically be thought of as rewards. These incentives can be investments. It is possible to direct societies to renewable energy by offering tax deductions, loan or grant options to people who want to invest in renewable energy. In addition, not only people, but also government officials should support and invest in renewable energy so that the public can follow their example.

Lead by example: The use of renewable energy sources by individuals will attract the attention of the society and encourage other people to use renewable energy and arouse their curiosity.