EREF Launches Third Controlled Release Study to Improve Methane Detection at Landfills
EREF-Funded Study, in Collaboration with FluxLab, to Test and Advance a Broader Range of Methane Detection Technologies Under More Variable Conditions
RALEIGH, NC – May 8, 2025 – Following the Environmental Research & Education Foundation’s (EREF) controlled release emissions studies in 2023 and 2024, researchers at St. Francis Xavier University’s FluxLab are set to launch their next phase of research on methane emissions measurement technologies. Their spring study will evaluate a wider range of technologies and conditions to advance the accuracy and reliability of methane detection in landfill environments.
The first and the second iterations of this study, conducted at a closed landfill in Ontario, Canada, assessed various detection methods – including truck-mounted sensors, continuous sensors, and aerial technologies – under standardized conditions. Results from the first round of the study highlighted significant variability in performance across methodologies, with no single technology emerging as a clear frontrunner for scalable implementation. You can download the report from 2023 here.
The second iteration of the study allowed researchers to consider how varying weather and wind conditions affect emissions measurements, particularly in relation to site topography and meteorological influences. The study engaged a broad range of technology providers – startups, consulting firms, NGOs, and researchers – from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The second report will be available in the coming weeks.
Building on insights from the previous research, this third phase is scheduled to begin in May 2025 and will include:
- Improving testing by using a broader range of conditions and methods
- Refining how emissions are measured
- Continuing to review previous methods
- Involving emissions from multiple sources
- Incorporating enhanced meteorological data
- Exploring new testing periods beyond traditional hours, including overnight studies.
- Testing Eddy Covariance Towers; drone-, vehicle-, and ground-based systems; and satellite- and aircraft-based methane detection technologies.
