3 ms·

> Let's assume that this is not a real issue unless you have some data which points out the opposite. US-wide estimates are 1.4% and recent studies suggest as

> Let's assume that this is not a real issue unless you have some data which points out the opposite. US-wide estimates are 1.4% and recent studies suggest as high as 9% in tested areas. https://news.stanford.edu/2022/03/24/methane-leaks-much-worse-estimates-fix-available/ https://news.stanford.edu/2022/03/24/methane-leaks-much-wors...

the_third_wave 4y ago
OK, those are production leaks, not transport leaks. I don't know how high production leaks are here in Europe but I assume them to be lower due to stringent rules. There is also quite a bit of natural methane leakage from swamps, wetlands and other similar sources as well as from agriculture. ESA has a satellite which can measure this [1], it shows methane leakage from landfills can also be quite large [2]. [1] https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-5P/Mapping_high-resolution_methane_emissions_from_space https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Coperni... [2] https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Satellites_detect_large_methane_emissions_from_Madrid_landfills https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Satelli...
- pinkorchid 4y ago
  All those leaks contribute to the externalities of natural gas. I don't know the relative contributions between extraction and distribution, but leaks in the distribution network are also a problem in Europe [1]. It's certainly true that extraction leaks can be so substantial as to make shale gas worse than coal [2] (twice worse over 20 years!). Landfills (and agriculture) are big sources of methane. I think this is a pretty good start to figure out what the EU is doing to reduce all sources [3]. [1] https://www.uu.nl/en/publication/scientists-discover-more-methane-leakages-in-utrechts-gas-distribution-network https://www.uu.nl/en/publication/scientists-discover-more-me... [2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-011-0061-5 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-011-0061-5 [3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/12/19/member-states-agree-on-new-rules-to-slash-methane-emissions/ https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022...

the_third_wave 4y ago

OK, those are production leaks, not transport leaks. I don't know how high production leaks are here in Europe but I assume them to be lower due to stringent rules. There is also quite a bit of natural methane leakage from swamps, wetlands and other similar sources as well as from agriculture. ESA has a satellite which can measure this [1], it shows methane leakage from landfills can also be quite large [2]. [1] https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-5P/Mapping_high-resolution_methane_emissions_from_space https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Coperni... [2] https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Satellites_detect_large_methane_emissions_from_Madrid_landfills https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Satelli...

pinkorchid 4y ago
All those leaks contribute to the externalities of natural gas. I don't know the relative contributions between extraction and distribution, but leaks in the distribution network are also a problem in Europe [1]. It's certainly true that extraction leaks can be so substantial as to make shale gas worse than coal [2] (twice worse over 20 years!). Landfills (and agriculture) are big sources of methane. I think this is a pretty good start to figure out what the EU is doing to reduce all sources [3]. [1] https://www.uu.nl/en/publication/scientists-discover-more-methane-leakages-in-utrechts-gas-distribution-network https://www.uu.nl/en/publication/scientists-discover-more-me... [2] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-011-0061-5 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10584-011-0061-5 [3] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/12/19/member-states-agree-on-new-rules-to-slash-methane-emissions/ https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022...