Harnessing solar to power lower-cost air quality sensors

Abstract

Air quality monitoring networks are essential for characterising spatial and temporal patterns in air pollution concentrations that inform the management of population exposure, but are often spatially sparse, limiting their ability to capture hyperlocal variation in air pollution. Lower-cost air quality sensors are increasingly used to address this challenge by complementing regulatory networks where they exist, extending monitoring into under-represented locations where monitoring is sparse, and establishing networks where monitoring is non-existent. However, deploying such sensors in practice frequently requires bespoke, context-responsive system configurations, particularly where access to power and infrastructure is limited. By deploying a lower-cost particulate matter sensor in a high-latitude context characterised by strong seasonal variability, using a customised solar-powered configuration, the paper consolidates practical considerations for the design and deployment of an off-grid air quality monitoring system, highlighting how design decisions, system trade-offs, and deployment processes could be adapted depending on context. While solar-powered systems can support hyperlocal monitoring, performance and scalability are shaped by seasonal variability, energy storage and charge-control limitations, connectivity-related power demand, siting constraints, and resilience to power interruptions. Deployment also highlighted institutional and governance considerations, including permissions, public space management, and ongoing maintenance burden. Synthesised practical considerations and recommendations are presented to inform the design and deployment of autonomous sensor networks capable of supporting hyperlocal air quality assessment, targeted mitigation, and more actionable decision-making.