Description
This report presents findings from EREF’s second controlled-release study evaluating emerging methane detection and quantification technologies at a closed landfill in Ontario, Canada. Conducted in November 2024, the study tested 14 participant teams across 31 experiments using drone-based sensors, fixed monitoring stations, walking surveys, and satellite systems.
Key findings include meaningful improvements in drone-based column sensing, which achieved a 90% probability of detection at just 5.7 kg/hr — roughly an order of magnitude better than 2023 results. Fixed-point continuous sensor systems also showed stronger quantification performance. Walking surveys, the method currently required under EPA regulations, detected nearly nothing under controlled conditions, raising important questions about its adequacy as a standalone compliance tool. Satellite detection remained elusive due to cloud cover and the dispersed nature of landfill emissions.
The report is intended to inform operators, regulators, and technology developers as the waste sector works to modernize how landfill methane is measured, reported, and reduced.
$0.00
