Get CO2 emission data using Carbon Intensity API

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In this article, we have explored how to get CO2 emission data for a specified time period and for specific location. For this, we have used Carbon Intensity API and have implemented the code in Python.

Table of Content:

  1. Development of API (Application Programming Interface)
  2. Database Presentation
  3. Preparation and Interpretation of CO2 (carbon dioxide)
  4. Final Considerations
  5. References

Let us get started with "Get CO2 emission data using Carbon Intensity API".

1. Development of API(Application Programming Interface)

The API can be considered a set of standards that enable communication between platforms through a series of standards and protocols. In other words, the API works as an intermediary allowing the database to be queried or changed.

It is a server that receives simple HTTP requests and returns data provided by a company/entity. This process facilitates the analysis of available information or even allows for user interaction.

Usually, all information extracted by an HTTP and API returns in JSON format. Proper use of the API maximizes data management. This API was developed in Python language.

In the code (Figure 1), there is an import the date function from the datetime, which will stipulate the range of data that will be required (GET method).
The request library is necessary to make HTTP requests, and the JSON library decodes objects and transforms them into lists or Python dictionaries (vice versa).

from datetime import date

import requests
import json

url = "https://api.carbonintensity.org.uk/intensity"

def emission():
    emission = requests.get(url)
    emission_tax =json()["data"][0]
    return emission["intensity"]["actual"]["index"]

def period(start, end):
    return requests.get(f"{url}/{start}/{end}").json()["data"]

if __name__ == "__main__":
    for entry in period(start="2021-10-4", end="2021-10-5"):
        print("from {from} to {to}: actual_tax:{intensity[actual]} index:{intensity[index]}".format(**entry))
    print(f"{emission_tax() = }")

Figure 1. API used to query CO2 emission data and index.

2. Database Presentation

The database used was developed by the National Grid ESO together with the Environmental Defense Fund Europe and the University of Oxford (Department of Computer Science and WWF).

According to the responsible agency[1]:

" To estimate the carbon intensity of electricity consumed in each region, a reduced GB Network model is used to calculate the power flows across the network. This considers the active and reactive power flows, system losses, and the impendance characteristics of the network. The carbon intensity of both active power flows (gCO2/kWh) and reactive power flows (gCO2/kVArh) is then calculated and the CO2 flows are attributed around the network for each 30 min period over the next several days. The carbon intensity of the power consumed in each region is then determined. The same approach is used to estimate the proportion of each fuel type consumed in each region."

The data source adopted in this article is the CO2 Intensity (National emission) available on the Carbon Intensity API Great Britain website[2].
Other data can also be consulted, such as:

The generated rate of CO2 for different factors (Figure 2):

{ 
  "data":[{ 
    "Biomass": 120,
    "Coal": 937,
    "Dutch Imports": 474,
    "French Imports": 53,
    "Gas (Combined Cycle)": 394,
    "Gas (Open Cycle)": 651,
    "Hydro": 0,
    "Irish Imports": 458,
    "Nuclear": 0,
    "Oil": 935,
    "Other": 300,
    "Pumped Storage": 0,
    "Solar": 0,
    "Wind": 0
  }]
}

Figure 2. CO2 generation rate for different energy matrices.

Types of energy matrices used in national territory and their percentage of CO2 generated (Figure 3):

{"data":{
"from":"2021-10-12T02:30Z",
"to":"2021-10-12T03:00Z",
"generationmix":[{
"fuel":"biomass",
"perc":9.4},
{"fuel":"coal","perc":0},
{"fuel":"imports","perc":15.3},
{"fuel":"gas","perc":22},
{"fuel":"nuclear","perc":16.5},
{"fuel":"other","perc":0},
{"fuel":"hydro","perc":1.1},
{"fuel":"solar","perc":0},
{"fuel":"wind","perc":35.6}
]}
}

Figure 3. Current energy matrix and its percentage of CO2 emissions.

Regional data, type of current energy matrix, and its contribution to CO2 generation (Figure 4):

{"data"[{
"regionid":17,
"dnoregion":"Wales",
"shortname":"Wales",
"data":[{
"from":"2021-10-12T02:30Z",
"to":"2021-10-12T03:00Z",
"intensity":{
"forecast":193,
"index":"moderate"},
"generationmix":[{
"fuel":"biomass","perc":0.3},
{"fuel":"coal","perc":0},
{"fuel":"imports","perc":0},
{"fuel":"gas","perc":48.9},
{"fuel":"nuclear","perc":10.2},
{"fuel":"other","perc":0},
{"fuel":"hydro","perc":1.4},
{"fuel":"solar","perc":0},
{"fuel":"wind","perc":39.2}
]}
]}
]}

Figure 4. Energy matrix used in the year 2021 by the region of Wales.

All this information is essential, for example, CO2 emission data for different energy matrices are tools for managing sustainable development policies (Figure 2).

The comparison of active matrices in the national territory (figure 3) can together the electricity generation data indicating the most efficient and least polluting matrices. And the characterization of each region (Figure 4) will provide an overview of what can and should be improved.

3. Preparation and Interpretation of CO2 (carbon dioxide)

Using the code (Figure 1) were generated the information about CO2 emission rate in Great Britain (Table 1) and respective index/classification(Table 2).

The code output is for the time interval between October 4th (23h30min) to October 6th (midnight) between 2017 to 2021.

Table 1. CO2 emission rate in gCO2/kWh generated within the stipulated range between the years 2017 to 2021

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
128 238 197 142 124
128 238 200 144 121
128 240 208 141 121
124 237 212 140 120
118 233 212 133 112
109 230 213 128 112
107 228 220 133 110
105 226 224 140 108
101 229 216 155 101
100 240 213 171 96
111 253 204 181 106
148 267 199 202 117
173 286 205 217 130
183 294 214 223 146
192 300 214 229 156
191 309 211 228 155
186 310 202 222 154
179 307 201 217 152
172 300 196 212 151
173 306 191 207 148
162 301 189 207 146
156 297 183 205 142
151 293 178 206 136
148 279 176 201 129
149 274 174 202 124
160 276 171 201 111
160 278 169 200 105
166 278 172 197 109
170 281 174 200 106
174 287 180 210 92
186 293 179 207 99
200 295 181 201 111
216 311 184 202 120
224 318 183 200 129
235 324 181 195 134
226 327 182 195 137
226 326 178 201 139
230 328 172 199 140
230 323 172 194 138
230 327 164 189 138
224 330 152 185 134
225 326 137 168 127
209 314 129 176 115
193 304 123 141 105
179 289 119 123 92
148 286 116 110 91
142 286 117 108 82
149 290 125 106 84
143 293 130 105 83

Table 2. Index/Classification of CO2 emission rate

LOW MODERATE HIGH
82-199 200-280 >= 281

Table 3 groups the classification (Table 2) and the arithmetic average of the generated CO2 rates (Table 1).

Table 3. Approximate values of CO2 emission rate (gCO2/kWh) for a time interval between 2017 to 2021

YEAR EMISSION INDEX
2017 121 low
2018 179 moderate
2019 180 moderate
2020 285 high
2021 168 moderate

The data from Table 1 and the Excel program has generated the graph (Figure 5). It contains all information about CO2 emission rate in each 30 minutes for energy generation in gCO2/kWh.

In 2020 was the highest value of CO2 generated (Table 3). Several factors may have contributed to this situation. Such as the type of energy matrix or even some unusual activity at the time.

However, to have a better understanding of the subject, more in-depth studies must be carried out.

Figure 5. Graph of CO2 emission for the interval between 2017 to 2021.

4. Final Considerations

What is the importance of the study the CO2 emissions in electrical energy generation?

The CO2 high rate emission is causing a ripple effect, where the increase in global temperature is changing the climate. With this, the sea level is changing, lack of drinking water, rain, food, and pests are emerging, and consequently, a possible breakdown in society could happen soon.

One of the biggest problems is the consumption of electricity and its production. It is necessary a sustainable development, preserving green areas, studying new forms to generate clean energy, and large corporations' and society's awareness.

With this article at OpenGenus, you must have the complete idea of how to Get CO2 emission data using Carbon Intensity API.

References

[1] Carbon Intensity API, viewed October 2021. carbonintensity.org.uk

[2] Carbon Intensity API Great Britain - National Carbon Intensity, viewed October 2021 api.carbonintensity.org.uk

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