Well Done Foundation (WDF) is pioneering a market-based solution to combat climate change by offering certified carbon credits generated from plugging orphaned oil and gas wells. This innovative approach reduces methane emissions, offsets taxpayer burden, and provides businesses and individuals a way to actively participate in climate action.
The Biden administration’s plan to charge oil and gas companies a fee on methane emissions has ignited a political firestorm, with Republicans vowing to overturn the rule under the incoming Trump administration. The EPA’s Waste Emissions Charge, intended to incentivize emissions reduction, has been met with fierce opposition, highlighting the partisan divide on energy policies.
While China has set ambitious targets for curbing carbon dioxide emissions, its methane emissions, another potent greenhouse gas, remain a pressing concern. This article delves into China’s significant methane emissions, their sources, and the government’s limited efforts to address the issue, highlighting the challenges and implications for global climate goals.
Chevron Shipping, in partnership with Wärtsilä, will convert engines on six LNG carriers to spark gas operation, aiming to reduce methane emissions and support the company’s carbon reduction goals. Chevron’s CEO Michael Wirth criticized Biden’s LNG export pause, arguing it will lead to higher energy costs and hinder the shift from coal to gas.
Sniffer Robotics, a leader in landfill methane emissions detection, announces a new partnership program, its first partners, and successful entry into the Canadian market. The program expands the company’s unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology to international customers by partnering with local industry service providers. Sniffer Robotics recently completed its first commercial operations in Canada, conducting methane emissions monitoring inspections at landfills across five provinces. The company is poised to meet the growing demand for compliant methane emissions monitoring solutions in Canada and globally.
MiQ, a global leader in emissions certification, has updated its Equivalency Table to include satellite monitoring for methane emissions, allowing oil and gas producers to utilize cutting-edge technology in their emissions management plans. This integration provides a standardized framework for utilizing satellite data, contributing to more accurate and efficient emissions reduction efforts.
EnLink Midstream, LLC (NYSE: ENLC) has announced the successful achievement of its methane emissions intensity reduction target, exceeding expectations by completing it a year ahead of schedule. The company highlighted this accomplishment in its 2023 Sustainability Report, demonstrating its commitment to environmental responsibility.
Rize, an agri-tech startup, is empowering rice farmers in Southeast Asia to reduce their methane emissions while boosting their profits. They achieve this by promoting the adoption of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) techniques, which have shown significant reductions in emissions and improved crop yields. Rize’s approach involves working closely with smallholder farmers, providing financial support, agronomic expertise, and data-driven insights to ensure sustainable and profitable rice production.
The European Union (EU) has adopted new rules to measure, report, and verify methane emissions in the energy sector. The goal of these regulations is to reduce the release of this potent greenhouse gas, which is up to 30 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Energy operators will be responsible for implementing mitigation measures, such as detecting and repairing methane leaks, and reporting on their emissions to independent verifiers. The rules also require companies to monitor methane leaks in different types of infrastructure and conduct inventories of closed or inactive assets that may emit methane. The EU will also track methane emissions from energy imports, starting in 2027, to enhance transparency.
A new methane emission rule has been announced for active and closed solid waste (MSW) landfills in the state. All affected landfills must meet the requirements starting July 1, 2024. The new rule includes specific requirements for surface emissions monitoring (SEM) that mirror those of the US EPA and other states. While the rule increases accountability for methane emissions, it could also lead to increased labor costs and safety concerns for technicians due to increased inspection time. Sniffer Robotics, LLC, has introduced the SnifferDRONE, an unmanned aerial system (UAS) that can perform SEM inspections 50% faster, reducing technician exposure to hazards and improving methane detection effectiveness. The method, utilizing the UAS, provides confidence in inspection through greater process control, data management, and professional reporting. Industry leaders in the state have already begun using the SnifferDRONE for landfill emission monitoring in 2023.
