Mobile Observations and quantification of Methane Emissions to inform National Targeting, Upscaling and Mitigation (MOMENTUM)
Lead Research Organisation:
Royal Holloway University of London
Department Name: Earth Sciences
Abstract
Consecutive record-breaking atmospheric CH4 growth rates of 15 and 17 ppb in 2020 and 2021 respectively, have increased the challenge of meeting the Paris Agreement and the Global Methane Pledge. The 2021 UN Global Methane Assessment report highlighted the need for large cuts in methane emissions this decade to slow global temperature rise. Recommendations for remediation targets are urgently required. The UN suggest that within the main source categories the following reductions are possible: 61% from fossil fuel production, distribution and use, 48% from waste processing and waste-to-energy generation, 22% from agriculture.
The UK inventory suggests that CH4 anthropogenic emissions have decreased significantly since 1990, but have remained static for the last 4 years. Our recent mobile measurement campaigns have highlighted potential for further reduction in emissions, particularly in gas distribution infrastructure. Mobile studies are also well-placed to identify so-called super-emitters. Rapid identification and prioritisation for repair or replacement can thus significantly and quickly impact total national emissions, as nations continue to transition to less carbon intensive activities.
The UK aims to meet its 2050 net zero targets with the development of 'green' or 'blue' energy, e.g. waste-to-energy or hydrogen production. An improved quantification of CH4 emissions from these emergent sectors is essential, but little is known about the lifecycle emissions of these sectors at present, making accurate Net Zero assessments impossible. We have already shown that CH4 measurements from biogas plants can be substantial and should be represented as point sources in the national inventory. Modelling of the UK and Ireland network of continuous methane measurement sites has allowed validation of the total UK emission from the inventory. What it does not do is validate emissions from individual source sectors or pinpoint emissions.
Given these knowledge gaps how do we ensure the accuracy of the UK's methane inventory in order to prioritise mitigation strategy and Net Zero policy? MOMENTUM aims to develop mobile measurement solutions to do this. It is essential to validate source sector emissions to provide further targets for methane reduction. This requires methodology for wide spatial coverage, but at measurement heights where emissions from individual source categories can be resolved in the complex environments of the UK, rather than from satellites or aircraft. We will develop individual CH4 source category emission quantification solutions for academic and industry/regulatory end users, following a series of experimental field campaigns using vehicle and UAV platforms to calibrate measurements and validate methodologies.
In summary the project will:
a) Test multiple instrument responses to different meteorological, instrumental and logistical parameters during mobile measurement, applying these to a range of flux models for different controlled emission release rates and distance from source.
b) Develop specific measurement and flux solutions for each source category from these results and data for co-emitted species (CO2, ammonia, ethane) and isotopes.
c) Test the validity of these solutions at known energy infrastructure and agricultural sites, and in a complex source environment with multiple sources (landfill, agriculture, biogas plant, oil refinery and gas infrastructure).
d) Use the validated methodology to survey a representative population of the main inventory emission categories (agriculture, waste, fossil fuel).
e) Upscale the emissions to national level to identify discrepancies in the inventory, and provide knowledge to fill inventory gaps, particularly for emerging sources.
f) Provide policy targets for emissions mitigation on the road to 'Net Zero' in collaboration with BEIS and other project partners.
The UK inventory suggests that CH4 anthropogenic emissions have decreased significantly since 1990, but have remained static for the last 4 years. Our recent mobile measurement campaigns have highlighted potential for further reduction in emissions, particularly in gas distribution infrastructure. Mobile studies are also well-placed to identify so-called super-emitters. Rapid identification and prioritisation for repair or replacement can thus significantly and quickly impact total national emissions, as nations continue to transition to less carbon intensive activities.
The UK aims to meet its 2050 net zero targets with the development of 'green' or 'blue' energy, e.g. waste-to-energy or hydrogen production. An improved quantification of CH4 emissions from these emergent sectors is essential, but little is known about the lifecycle emissions of these sectors at present, making accurate Net Zero assessments impossible. We have already shown that CH4 measurements from biogas plants can be substantial and should be represented as point sources in the national inventory. Modelling of the UK and Ireland network of continuous methane measurement sites has allowed validation of the total UK emission from the inventory. What it does not do is validate emissions from individual source sectors or pinpoint emissions.
Given these knowledge gaps how do we ensure the accuracy of the UK's methane inventory in order to prioritise mitigation strategy and Net Zero policy? MOMENTUM aims to develop mobile measurement solutions to do this. It is essential to validate source sector emissions to provide further targets for methane reduction. This requires methodology for wide spatial coverage, but at measurement heights where emissions from individual source categories can be resolved in the complex environments of the UK, rather than from satellites or aircraft. We will develop individual CH4 source category emission quantification solutions for academic and industry/regulatory end users, following a series of experimental field campaigns using vehicle and UAV platforms to calibrate measurements and validate methodologies.
In summary the project will:
a) Test multiple instrument responses to different meteorological, instrumental and logistical parameters during mobile measurement, applying these to a range of flux models for different controlled emission release rates and distance from source.
b) Develop specific measurement and flux solutions for each source category from these results and data for co-emitted species (CO2, ammonia, ethane) and isotopes.
c) Test the validity of these solutions at known energy infrastructure and agricultural sites, and in a complex source environment with multiple sources (landfill, agriculture, biogas plant, oil refinery and gas infrastructure).
d) Use the validated methodology to survey a representative population of the main inventory emission categories (agriculture, waste, fossil fuel).
e) Upscale the emissions to national level to identify discrepancies in the inventory, and provide knowledge to fill inventory gaps, particularly for emerging sources.
f) Provide policy targets for emissions mitigation on the road to 'Net Zero' in collaboration with BEIS and other project partners.
Publications
Allen G
(2023)
How to quantify anthropogenic methane emissions with aircraft surveys
in Communications Earth & Environment
Description | Controlled release experiment |
Organisation | LiCor Biosciences |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | RHUL provided instruments and survey vehicle for the controlled release experiment. A second experiment will take place in May 2024 as part of the MOMENTUM project, with a wider range of participants, including drone and aircraft measurements. |
Collaborator Contribution | LiCor Biosciences UK brought their new greenhouse gas instrument to the controlled release experiment and fitted this into our survey vehicle NPL provided and set up the controlled release facility |
Impact | Manuscript in preparation |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Controlled release experiment |
Organisation | National Physical Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | RHUL provided instruments and survey vehicle for the controlled release experiment. A second experiment will take place in May 2024 as part of the MOMENTUM project, with a wider range of participants, including drone and aircraft measurements. |
Collaborator Contribution | LiCor Biosciences UK brought their new greenhouse gas instrument to the controlled release experiment and fitted this into our survey vehicle NPL provided and set up the controlled release facility |
Impact | Manuscript in preparation |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | International Methane Emissions Observatory |
Organisation | United Nations (UN) |
Department | United Nations Environment Programme |
Country | Kenya |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Dr. James France acts as Science Advisor to IMEO's Methane Science Studies Programme. Prof Euan Nisbet is an advisory board member. |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of links to global network of researchers measuring methane |
Impact | An Eye on Methane: International Methane Emissions Observatory 2022 Report (Roland Kupers, Daniel Zavala-Araiza, Giulia Ferrini, Stefan Schwietzke, Erin Tullos, Cynthia Randles, James France, Luis Guanter, Manfredi Caltagirone, Meghan Demeter and Marci Baranski), UNEP, 2022. Multidisciplinary - science and policy An Eye on Methane: The Road to Radical Transparency: International Methane Emissions Observatory 2023 Report (Andreea Calcan and 21 others), UNEP, 2023. https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/44129/eye_on_methane.pdf?sequence=3 Multidisciplinary - science and policy |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Advancing the Monitoring of Landfill Methane Emissions - Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | RHUL GHG group were invired participants at this workshop organised by NPL to discuss current methodologies for the measurements, modelling and accounting of methane emissions from Landfill sites. Participants included representatives from DEFRA, DESNZ, Ricardo, the Environment Agency, GHG Sat, Landfill operators such as Veolia, and companies and universities developing and deploying new technologies for measurement. Following a series of short presentations, discussions took place on best practice for measurement, frequency of measurements, understanding differences in emissions between different types and ages of landfill, and the influences of meteorology and seasonality on emissions, ending with a breakout session to develop suggestions and ways forward for the next decade of measurement and reporting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |