Multi-tiered Greenhouse Gas Emissions Measurements of California's Natural Gas-Powered Industrial and Fueling Infrastructure
Measuring Greenhouse Gas Emissions from California’s Natural Gas-Powered Industrial Sector
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
Recipient
Palo Alto, CA
Recipient Location
13th
Senate District
23rd
Assembly District
$1,388,519
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project was completed in June 2021. The project conducted measurement campaigns using a suite of methane monitoring techniques at high throughput industrial natural gas customer sites (two power plants and one food processing facility) and 48 compressed natural gas fueling stations. The project also measured nitrous oxide emissions from industrial combustion stacks. Total site fugitive emissions represented tiny fractions of natural gas throughput. Stack combustion GHG emissions depended on plant operating mode. Compressors had the highest emissions by equipment or component type and emissions were significantly impacted by operational mode. Lessons learned from the site recruitment process, along with emissions results will inform the design of future research. The final report is in the final stages of the review process.
The Issue
Despite a number of intensive measurement campaigns in recent years to locate and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, significant uncertainty still exists in the estimates of methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O) from natural gas and petroleum infrastructure. The estimates resulting from different measurement approaches, such as 'top-down' and 'bottom-up', show discrepancies that suggest missing or underestimated sources in state inventories. These data gaps can limit California's ability to meet regulatory requirements. Thus, a new approach to detection and quantification of these emissions is needed.
Project Innovation
This project includes a series of multi-tiered measurement campaigns for fugitive methane (CH4) and stack nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions behind-the-meter at a variety of natural gas infrastructure sites, including multiple power plants, industrial facilities, and compressed natural gas fueling infrastructure sites. New and previously collected data from aircraft are used to identify geographical areas of high GHG emissions that can be further investigated on the ground. Ground measurements are made at the site or facility system and subsystem levels with screening tools, such as infrared cameras, to locate specific leaks.
Follow-up measurements with quantitative tools (such as Hi Flow devices, quantitative camera technology, tracer release, and mobile plume integration) are used to estimate emission rates. N2O stack measurements at gas-fired power plants and industrial boilers are made to understand the potential impact on GHG emissions.
Project Benefits
Ambient measurements of methane suggest that actual methane leaks are much higher than what California Air Resources Board (CARB) reports in the State GHG Inventory. This project will help determine whether industrial facilities are significant sources of underestimated emissions. New GHG measurements focused on previously under-sampled sources will lead to improved emissions estimates for a number of source categories, and will identify leaks that have previously been unknown. This will provide information for mitigation actions by CARB and power plants in support of SB 32, SB 1371, and other GHG mitigation and safety regulations.
Affordability
Early identification and mitigation of methane leaks will result in the ratepayer benefits of reduced net cost of natural gas due to reduced losses of natural gas.
Environmental Sustainability
As CH4 and N2O have high global warming potential, mitigation of these emissions on a broad scale could have significant environmental benefits. Identification and quantification of methane leaks in natural gas infrastructure system will allow for CH4 leak mitigation, as required by SB 1371 and help to address ambitious state GHG reduction goals.
Safety
Reducing leaks increases the overall safety for workers and the public that live near gas delivery infrastructure due to avoided emissions and reduced risk of fire and explosion. The information collected from this project may subsequently improve workforce training and inform operations of natural gas plants, refineries, and natural gas fueling stations.
Key Project Members
Stephanie Shaw
Subrecipients
Institute of Gas Technology dba GTI Energy
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Scientific Aviation
Montrose Air Quality Services, LLC
Match Partners
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
