sign in sign up
<<
Home , Methane emissions

Global Emissions and Mitigation Opportunities

Methane (CH4) is a and the primary component of . Methane is also a potent and abundant (GHG), which makes it a significant contributor to , especially in the near term (i.e., 10–15 years). Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and from the decay of organic in and certain systems.

Methane is the second most abundant GHG after (CO2), accounting for 14 percent of global emissions. Though methane is emitted into the atmosphere in smaller

quantities than CO2, its (i.e., the ability of the gas to trap heat in the atmosphere) is 25 times greater. As a result, methane emissions currently contribute more than one-third of today’s anthropogenic warming.

Ü Global Methane Emissions Figure 1: Estimated Global Anthropogenic by Sector Methane Emissions by Source, 2010 Cultivation 10% Global anthropogenic methane emissions for 2010 were estimated at 6,875 million 1 Other Ag Sources 7% Enteric Fermentation 29% metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MMTCO2E). Approximately 50 percent of these emissions come from the five sources Wastewater 9% targeted by the Global Methane Initiative 3% (GMI): , coal mines, landfills, oil and natural gas systems, and wastewater Stationary and Mobile Sources 1% (see Figure 1). Oil and Gas 20% Agriculture (Manure) 4%

GMI Partner countries (see www. Coal 6% globalmethane.org for complete list) Landfills 11% represent approximately 70 percent of the world’s estimated anthropogenic methane emissions and include the top 10 methane-emitting countries. Partner countries’ major methane Figure 2: Estimated and Projected Global Anthropogenic emission sources vary greatly, and thus the Methane Emissions by Source, 2010 and 2020 2500 opportunities for methane capture and use Enteric Fermentation in each country also vary. 2000 Ü Global Emissions Projections

Global anthropogenic methane emissions 1500 are projected to increase by 15 percent to

7,904 MMTCO2E by 2020 (see Figure 2). 1000 From 2010 to 2020, the relative Landfills contributions of the agriculture, coal mining, Wastewater and sectors are projected to remain 500 Coal Mining relatively constant, changing by less than 1 Biomass percent of global anthropogenic methane 0 Oil and Rice Other Ag Manure Stationary Gas Cultivation Sources Management & Mobile 1Unless otherwise noted, all data are from U.S. EPA’s Global Anthropogenic

Emissions of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: 1990–2020 (EPA Report 430-R-06-003), www.epa.gov/climatechange/economics/international.html. Estimated 2010 Emissions Projected Added Emissions by 2020

Global Methane Initiative 1 www.globalmethane.org emissions or approximately 7 to 10 Figure 3: Global Methane Emissions by Sector percent within each sector (see Figure 3). Methane emissions from wastewater 4000 treatment systems are expected to 3500 increase by nearly 12 percent. Oil and gas emissions, however, are expected 3000

to increase by nearly 35 percent from E 2500 2 2010 to 2020, and will account for 3 percent more of the projected global 2000 anthropogenic methane emissions 1500 MMTCO annually. 1000

Ü Benefits of Methane 500

Mitigation 0 Methane presents unique 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 opportunities because cost-effective mitigation technologies and practices Agriculture Coal Landfill Oil & Gas Wastewater to address methane emissions from the largest anthropogenic sources of product that reaches the market, are already widely available and in generating increased revenue. The Global Methane Initiative use all over the world. In addition to For any project, producing energy mitigating climate change, reducing On 1 October 2010, 37 Partner from recovered methane provides methane emissions delivers a host governments and the European a local source of clean energy that of other energy, health and safety, Commission launched GMI to urge can spur economic development. and local environmental benefits. It can displace higher CO - and stronger international action to fight Many technologies and practices 2 pollutant-intensive energy sources climate change while developing clean that reduce methane emissions also such as wood, coal, and oil. Finally, energy and stronger economies. GMI reduce emissions of volatile organic recovered methane can serve as compounds, hazardous air pollutants, builds on the success and structure of a new sustainable and abundant and other local air pollutants. This Methane to Markets, broadens the scope energy source for developing yields health benefits for local to include additional emission sources and countries. populations and workers. Because new approaches to methane abatement, methane is an important precursor Ü advances the development of national of tropospheric , reducing Overview of Mitigation action plans, and brings new resources to methane also reduces ozone-related Opportunities health effects. Many of the currently available expand international collaboration. Methane reduction projects at landfills methane mitigation opportunities More than 1,000 public and private sector and wastewater treatment plants also involve the recovery and use of organizations are members of the GMI the methane as fuel for electricity reduce odors; in the agriculture sector, Project Network, and have helped the generation, onsite uses, or offsite they control manure protecting local program to leverage nearly $480 million waters and ecosystems. Capturing gas sales. Specific technologies and in investment from private companies methane from gassy coal mines mitigation approaches, however, improves industrial safety by reducing vary by emission source because of and financial institutions. GMI will serve the risk of explosions. The use of their different characteristics and to build capacity and identify needs and low-emission equipment and better emission processes. The matrix (on opportunities for advancing reduction page 3) provides a brief summary management practices in oil and efforts, while providing a framework for of the mitigation opportunities by natural gas systems minimizes methane ensuring coordination and maximizing the leaks, yielding health and safety sector compiled from published leveraging of its collective resources. benefits while increasing the amount literature and the work of the

2The Fourth Assessment Report of Working Group III of the IPCC (www.mnp.nl/ipcc/pages_media/AR4-chapters. html) and the U.S. EPA report, Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases (www.epa.gov/climatechange/ economics/international.html), both contain information on methane mitigation options.

Global Methane Initiative 2 www.globalmethane.org Global Methane Proven Mitigation Sources of Methane Mitigation Opportunities Emissions Technologies per Sector*

Oil & Gas Systems 1,354.42 • Technologies or equipment upgrades that reduce or MMTCO E eliminate equipment venting or fugitive emissions. Emitted during normal 2 operations, routine • Enhanced management practices that take advan- maintenance, and system tage of improved measurement or emission reduc- disruptions in the oil and tion technology. natural gas industry. For more information from the Oil and Gas ­ Subcommittee: www.globalmethane.org/oil-gas Leak Detection Equipment (Mexico)

Landfills 760.63 • Extraction using a series of wells and a vacuum

MMTCO2E system, which directs the collected gas to a point to Produced through the be combusted in a flare or utilized for energy (e.g., decomposition of organic electricity generation, boiler, dryers, vehicle fuel). waste under anaerobic conditions typically found For more information from the Landfills Subcommittee: in landfills and large dump www.globalmethane.org/landfills sites. Well ()

Wastewater 594.04 Installation of: MMTCO E Produced by decay of 2 • Anaerobic sludge digestion (new construction or organic material in waste- retrofit of existing aerobic treatment systems). water as it decomposes in anaerobic environments. • Biogas capture systems at existing open air anaerobic lagoons. • New centralized aerobic treatment facilities or covered lagoons. • Gas capture and combustion systems to flare or utilize methane (e.g., onsite electricity or other Anaerobic Wastewater thermal uses). Treatment ()

Coal Mines 407.56 • Degasification, where holes are drilled and the

MMTCO2E methane is captured (not vented) in conjunction Emitted from active and with mining operations. abandoned underground mines and surface mines, • Ventilation air methane (VAM) abatement, where low and as a result of post- concentrations of methane are oxidized to generate mining activities including heat for process use and/or electricity generation. coal processing, storage, For more information from the Coal Mines Subcommittee: Degasification Pump Station and transportation. www.globalmethane.org/coal-mines (Ukraine)

Agriculture (Manure 243.95 • Covered anaerobic lagoons collect and transmit

Management) MMTCO2E lagoon-generated biogas to a dedicated point for transmission to some type of gas use device (e.g., Produced from decomposi- engine). tion of livestock and poultry manure stored or treated in • Digesters (e.g., plug flow, complete systems that promote mix) that or “digest” organic waste in the anaerobic conditions absence of oxygen, thereby generating methane for (e.g., liquid or slurry in collection and use. lagoons, ponds, tanks, For more information from the Agriculture Subcommittee:­ Floating Dome Anaerobic or pits). www.globalmethane.org/agriculture Digester (India)

*estimated 2010 emissions

Global Methane Initiative 3 www.globalmethane.org Initiative’s technical subcommittees Table 1: Global Percentage Reduction from Projected Baseline, 2020 or task forces, as well as examples of mitigation technologies from Partner Cost per Baseline countries.2 $0 $15 $30 $45 $60 MTCO2E (MMTCO2E) Ü Emission Reduction Potential by Sector Agriculture 13% 21% 30% 34% 36% 269.3 Coal Mines 15% 80% 80% 80% 80% 449.5 Methane emissions can be relatively inexpensive to reduce compared with Landfills 12% 41% 50% 57% 88% 816.9

CO2, and various government agencies Oil and Gas 10% 25% 33% 38% 54% 1,695.8 and organizations are incorporating Source: Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: 1990 – 2020 (EPA Report 430-R-06-005) non-CO2 mitigation into analysis and policy discussions. The Global minimal $15/MTCO E investment, 2 Ü Conclusion Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gas but then the potential reduction report conducted an analysis applying drops to less than 10 percent per There are many cost-effective and currently available mitigation options cost increment from $15 to $45/ economically viable opportunities and technologies to global methane worldwide to reduce methane MTCO2E. In this sector, however, emission baselines in four of the GMI another 30 percent increase in emissions. The GMI serves as an target sectors to provide insight into reduction potential exists for innovative mechanism to bring methane emission reduction potential together interested parties from activities costing $60/MTCO2E, and costs. 3 which results in a total overall government and the private sector to overcome barriers and facilitate The following sectors were identified reduction potential for actions from $0 to $60/MTCO E reaching methane project development because of their tremendous potential 2 76 percent more than the baseline, and implementation around the for anthropogenic methane emission representing the greatest total world. By conducting technology reductions, particularly for those reduction potential of all sectors. transfer, improving local capacity, resulting from cost-effective or low- and marketing project opportunities cost actions: • Oil and Gas: Emission reduction across borders and sectors, the potential follows a similar trend as Initiative is developing local, clean • Agriculture: This sector has an landfills, with its largest reduction energy resources while reducing GHG increased reduction potential potential of approximately 15 emissions. of nearly 20 percent associated percent resulting from both the

with raising activity costs from lower (from $0 to $15/MTCO2E) and higher (from $45 to $60/MTCO E) $0 to $30/MTCO2E. In this sector, 2 activities costing more ($45 to cost ranges, and less than a 10 percent change per cost increment $60/MTCO2E) do not generate significant additional reduction from $15 to $30/MTCO2E and $30 benefits (i.e., less than 2 to 4 to $45/MTCO E. 2 For additional information, please visit the percent per cost increment). Overall, the potential for methane GMI website at mitigation at or below $0/MTCO E is • Coal Mines: More than 65 percent 2 www.globalmethane.org of potential reductions in this sector approximately 500 MMTCO2E, and the or contact the could be achieved by increasing mitigation potential more than triples Administrative Support Group. costs from $0 to $15/MTCO E, above to 1,800 MMTCO E as the price of the 2 2 Administrative Support Group (ASG) which the potential for reductions action rises from $0 to $30/MTCO E. 2 Global Methane Initiative remains steady regardless of The analyses also found that the Tel: +1-202-343-9683 increased activity cost. largest methane emitters (e.g., China, , ) show significant Fax: +1-202-343-2202 Landfills: This sector has significant • mitigation potential in the lower E-mail: [email protected] emission reduction potential of range (e.g., $10/MTCO E). nearly 30 percent change with a 2

3  Complete details on the inputs and methodologies used in this analysis are fully described in the report Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases at www.epa.gov/ climatechange/economics/international.html. No formal analysis is presented for wastewater because data are insufficient on wastewater systems’ infrastructure and abate- ment technology costs.

Global Methane Initiative 4 www.globalmethane.org