Produkt-Neuheit

Methane: A Powerful Greenhouse Gas

Methane makes up 17-19% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is a major contributor to global warming. It has already driven about 0.5°C of the 1.3°C temperature rise since pre-industrialisation.
At least two-thirds of global methane emissions are caused by human activities, mainly from:

• Agriculture (46%): Primarily from enteric fermentation in ruminant livestock (e.g., cows)
• Oil, Gas, and Coal Production (30-40%): Methane leaks during extraction and processing, as well as
venting and flaring, are key contributors.
• Waste Management (7-10%): Anaerobic digestion of organic waste in landfills and wastewater treat
ment plants releases methane.

Methane’s Immediate Impact

Because methane breaks down in the atmosphere in about 10 years (compared to CO2’s 100-year lifespan), reducing methane emissions can have a faster and more significant impact on slowing global warming.

• Over 20 years, methane is 85 times more potent than CO2 in warming the planet.
• Over 100 years, its warming potential drops to 28-30 times that of CO2.

Reducing methane is critical for short-term climate benefits while also addressing long-term warming goals.

Initiatives to reduce methane emissions

The EU and the United States launched the Global Methane Pledge at COP26 which aims to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. Five more countries joined the pledge and GMP now has 156 participating countries.

EU Regulations and Directives introduced or proposed

Agriculture

• EU Methane Strategy (2020): Proposes revisions to Feed Additives Regulation to mitigate the
environmental impact of livestock farming.
• Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, Revised 2024): Now covers large pig and poultry farms to
minimize pollution.
• Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reforms: These propose subsidies be linked to sustainable
practices, encouraging reduced livestock farming and meat production.

Oil, Gas and coal production

• EU Methane Regulation (2024): Focuses on reducing methane emissions with key actions:

Monitoring & Reporting: Operators must monitor methane emissions at the source, conduct regular
leak inspections, and promptly repair leaks.
Venting & Flaring Ban: Routine venting and flaring of methane are prohibited.
Import Standards (2027): From 2027, new contracts for imported gas, oil, and coal will require
exporting countries to follow EU methane standards
Future Law (2030): By 2030, the EU plans to enforce methane limits on imported fossil fuels,
pressuring global suppliers to reduce leaks.

• Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, Revised 2024): Aims to reduce emissions from large industrial
installations, including the energy sector by:

Best Available Techniques (BAT): Requires industries to use advanced processes like methane capture
and leak detection/repair (LDAR) systems.
BREFs: Updated BAT Reference Documents now include methane control for the fossil fuel industry.
Permitting & Compliance: Operators must obtain permits with strict emission limits based on BAT
and maintain continuous compliance for environmental protection.

Waste Management

The EU has implemented several key regulations to control methane emissions from waste management, including:

• Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC)
• Methane Regulation (2024)
• Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU, revised 2024)
• Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC)
• Sewage Sludge Directive (86/278/EEC)

These regulations focus on:

1. Diverting Biodegradable Waste: Reducing organic waste in landfills to limit methane production.
2. Landfill Gas Capture: Collecting methane for energy use or flaring it to prevent atmospheric release.
3. Monitoring & Reporting: Strengthening methane capture technologies and enhancing monitoring and
reporting systems.
4. Best Available Techniques (BAT): Requiring advanced processes like aerobic composting, methane
capture from anaerobic digesters, and enhanced landfill gas extraction.

Natural Sources of Methane Emissions

The remaining one-third of the world’s methane emissions come from natural sources, and include:

• Anaerobic Decomposition: Organic matter breaking down without oxygen in wetlands, oceans, rivers,
lakes, and thawing permafrost.
• Methane Hydrates: Methane trapped in seabed sediments, released as sea temperatures rise.
• Volcanic and Geological Activity: Methane released from underground reservoirs due to volcanic or
tectonic activity.
• Wildfires: Methane generated during the combustion of organic materials.
• Animals and Termites: Termites digest cellulose, producing methane through gut microbes.

Reducing methane from natural sources is a challenge, but some innovative strategies can help mitigate emissions or offset man-made methane such as :

• Limiting anaerobic conditions which give rise to methane in wetlands through management of the
water levels.
• Slowing permafrost thaw by insulating soils with plant cover to reduce methane release
• Capturing and oxidising methane before it can escape into the atmosphere from the ground or seas
• Reforesting which is a means of carbon offsetting man-made GHG emissions.
• Introducing Methanotrophic Bacteria to soil or water to oxidise methane to anaerobic environments.

Tools required to check and monitor methane emissions

Regulatory frameworks and financial incentives are critical to ensuring industries adopt these advanced technologies.

As methane reduction becomes a regulatory requirement, industries will need to invest in methane leak detection and monitoring solutions. Figaro, a leading global gas sensor manufacturer can provide the key element for such devices and systems, the methane sensor itself.

Figaro’s Methane Sensors

Figaro offers three methane sensors with different characteristics enabling the OEM to select the sensor which best meets their specific application requirements.

The TGS 2611

The TGS 2611 is Figaro’s well proven cost effective metal oxide sensor combining high sensitivity to
methane with low power consumption and long life. This is available as a filtered sensor eliminating
interference from alcohol, or a non-filtered sensor with a faster response time.

The TGS 8410

The TGS 8410 MEMS gas sensor has ultra low power requirements, just 0.087mW. With its’ high selectivity to methane, rapid response and long life, it is the perfect choice for a portable battery powered methane leak detector for midstream and downstream leaks in the natural gas supply chain.

The TGS 3870

The Three in One sensor…Not only will this sensor detect methane, but also carbon monoxide and
hydrogen by switching the heather voltage. Cross sensitivities between these gases are very low owing to their very different resistance values at similar concentration levels. The typical detection range is 1-25% LEL for hydrogen and methane, and 50-1000 ppm for Carbon monoxide.