Reducing energy-related methane emissions to meet the Global Methane Pledge

The Global Methane Pledge at COP26, and the EU's Methane Strategy last year, signals methane reduction as a critical issue of our time. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, contributing a third of today's manmade warming, but has received little attention compared to CO2. Methane emissions come from several sources such as natural gas supply chains, biogas and agriculture but our understanding of emissions and mitigation options is poor.

The main aim of the PhD research is to provide a better understanding of energy-related methane emissions via a combination of fieldwork measurement, environmental modelling and techno-economic mitigation optioneering. We will conduct measurement studies using several methane detection technologies including quantitative optical gas imaging, on facilities such as LNG-fuelled ships, LNG facilities, biogas facilities and compressor stations. The next stage is to conduct life cycle environmental assessments that include this new data and identify the technological and operational options available to mitigate these emissions. A probabilistic modelling analysis will be conducted to understand how, and by how much we can reduce methane emissions.