Air Quality Monitoring and Photovoltaic Impact Assessment in Valea Jiului

This paper focuses on air pollution in Jiul Valley, a region characterized by mining activities and extensive use of coal for household heating, especially during the cold season. To assess this issue, the use of an MQ-7 sensor network is proposed. These sensors, integrated into an extended network, have been employed to collect data on carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in the air. Additionally, the utilization of a Raspberry Pi device is proposed, allowing the collected data to be processed and used to generate interactive maps. Initial data analysis has highlighted significant variations in CO concentrations depending on location and seasonal changes, with higher levels in proximity to residential and industrial areas. Furthermore, the study proposes an expansion of monitoring to investigate the impact of airborne pollutants on the performance of photovoltaic panels. Future plans include implementing a photovoltaic panel system on the former waste heaps in Jiul Valley. This expansion of the research aims to explore the relationship between atmospheric pollution levels and the energy efficiency of photovoltaic panels, especially within the context of the mining region. These preliminary findings emphasize not only the importance of implementing effective monitoring and intervention strategies to reduce pollution but also the relevance of investigating pollution's impact on future sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic panels. Moreover, this work provides an initial perspective on the capabilities of MQ-7 sensors in air pollution monitoring and serves as a foundation for further development of efficient air quality management strategies in Jiul Valley and similar regions, considering the prospective integration of sustainable technologies.