Methane Quantization and Localization

Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and plays a major role in climate change. By developing and testing new sensors and advanced technology, the project MEQAL (Methane Quantization and Localization) aims to reduce the greenhouse effect by identifying and locating unintentional methane emissions, which are often difficult to detect. This supports methane recovery and leakage prevention in waste management, biogas production, agriculture, and peatland restoration.

The project is conducted by the FSCN and STC research centers of Mid Sweden University in collaboration with University of Oulu and Lapland University of Applied Sciences. The partnership brings together different expertise that foster development of effective methods. Furthermore, the project benefits from different research environments, technical platforms, and testbeds, increasing the potential to create sustainable solutions.

MEQAL project proposes a new three-step method for detecting, localizing and quantifying methane emissions. University of Oulu is responsible for one part of the method. We develop and demonstrate the localization method for methane leaks at closed landfills using an airborne imaging method in which the leak locations are detected with a hyperspectral camera carried by a drone. The knowledge of the leak locations then helps to measure the total amount of the released methane using standard measurement instruments.

The second topic is to anticipate the forthcoming regulation of methane monitoring in the EU and to adapt the three-step method to that.