Jennifer M. Granholm Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $13 million funding initiative aimed at mitigating methane emissions from natural gas infrastructure. The funds will support twelve multi-year research projects focused on developing cost-effective methods to reduce methane emissions and better quantify their sources, volumes, and rates. This initiative aligns with the President's Climate Action Plan Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions.
“This initiative is an important part of this Administration’s overall strategy to address methane emissions from natural gas transportation and storage infrastructure,” said Franklin Orr, DOE’s Under Secretary for Science and Energy. “Improving our ability to measure and minimize methane emissions will help us to safely and efficiently use our nation’s natural gas resources, and at the same time address environmental and infrastructure challenges as we work to meet our commitments on climate change.”
Natural gas is a significant energy source in the United States, providing heat to millions of homes and expected to contribute a third of the nation's total electric power generation this year. Despite its lower carbon emissions compared to other energy resources, unaddressed methane emissions could negate its environmental benefits.
Seven of the selected projects will focus on developing technologies for reducing natural gas leaks. These efforts aim to create tools that can move beyond proof-of-concept stages towards potential commercialization.
The remaining five projects will concentrate on advancing research in quantifying methane emissions across the natural gas supply chain.
The following seven projects are part of DOE’s Methane Emissions Mitigation from Midstream Infrastructure research:
1. **Oceanit (Honolulu, Hawaii)**: Development of EverPel, a multifunctional coating preventing corrosion and deposits in pipelines. DOE funding: $1,200,000.
2. **Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, Texas)**: Development of an optical-based methane leak detection system for midstream infrastructures. DOE funding: $629,517.
3. **PPG Industries, Inc. (Allison Park, Pennsylvania)**: Creation of technology platforms for remote monitoring of pipeline conditions and early detection of potential methane releases. DOE funding: $876,639.
4. **Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)**: Deployment of chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy (CLaDS) for airborne detection of methane leaks from pipelines and compressor stations. DOE funding: $1,188,735.
5. **Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, Texas)**: Development of a seal design for reciprocating compressor piston rods to mitigate methane emissions from midstream machinery. DOE funding: $797,517.
6. **Gas Technology Institute (GTI) (Des Plaines, Illinois)**: Testing an integrated Thermoelectric Generator/burner system substituting air instead of natural gas as the operating fluid for pneumatic controllers in oil and gas field operations. DOE funding: $1,199,353.
7. **University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA)**: Development of advanced distributed optical fiber technology optimized for natural gas infrastructure monitoring by University of Pittsburgh in collaboration with Corning Inc.. DOE funding: $1,200,000.
Additionally, five projects have been selected under DOE Methane Emissions Quantification research:
1. **Gas Technology Institute (GTI) (Des Plaines, Illinois)**: Conducting field campaigns to measure methane emissions from various types of pipes and industrial meters with partners AECOM and GHD Services Inc.. DOE funding: $1,090 719.
2. **Colorado State University (Fort Collins Colorado)**: Developing nationally-representative emission factors for equipment at gathering compressor stations along with estimates for episodic emissions with partners University of Colorado Boulder and AECOM.. DOE Funding:$ 1 872 018
3 .**GSI Environmental Inc.(Houston Texas )** : Field investigation activities at Clay Basin Utah underground natural storage facility along with Utah State University Colorado State University Houston Advanced Research Center .DOE Funding:$1208499
4 .**GSI Environmental Inc.(Houston Texas )** : Improving accuracy reported GHGI integrating data visualization package digitally overlays concentrations rates over time smart maps site .DOE Funding:$800480
5 .**University Colorado Boulder(Boulder Colorado )** : Collecting ground based regional scale measurements aircraft estimate across underground sector multiple deployments dual frequency comb spectrometer conjunction focused mass balance flights facilities NIST UC Davis Scientific Aviation.DOE Funding:$1323130
The Office Fossil Energy funds development demonstration reduce risk cost advanced carbon technologies further sustainable use Nation fossil resources.To learn more programs within Office Fossil Energy visit website sign up FE news announcements.
