Background

If biogas production and biomethane injection is to fulfil its potential it is essential to understand the importance of assessing and quantifying methane leakage from these systems to be certain of GHG savings.

IPCC Guidelines state that emissions of CH4 from AD facilities as a result of unintentional leakages from process disturbances and other unexpected events are generally between 0 and 10% of the amount of methane generated. There are several factors influence the level of methane leakage from an AD plant including the following:

• Type of feedstock
• Feedstock storage and feeding it to the digesters
• Digestor design and gas storage area
• Nature of the digestion process
• Practice in storing the digestate
• The processes involved in the final use of the biogas (eg. CHP or injection to grid)

Why you should measure your Methane Slip

1. It enables for targeted methane slip mitigative measures to be introduced to the AD plant to prevent methane loss. Several plants that have undergone assessment have identified various levels of methane slip that are now being actioned.
2. You can increase plant efficiencies as a result, and therefore reduce financial losses from methane slip.
3. You can provide evidence, in the form of a report, that best environmental practises at the plant have been adhered to. It is important that methane slip into the atmosphere is reduced as it is a potent greenhouse gas with the potential to cancel out the benefits of reduced natural gas consumption. The quantification of your methane slip ensures that your operations are fully transparent and reported.
4. It is now a requirement under the ISCC that your plant combats methane slip using one of the following preventative measures:
   • Covered digestion storage
   • Additional measures to consume additional methane and to stop methane slip
   • Measurement of methane slip
5. Producing accurate reports with quantification software, whilst not a requirement of BSEN 17628 now, gives clear indication of the level of any leak, something that will soon be a requirement under RED III.

Our Capabilities

Our capabilities consist of over 12 Years’ experience with Optical Gas Imaging cameras. Having been involved in the Oil and Gas market providing cameras, training, and inspection services they are now specialising is Biogas and Wastewater permit applications. Our business partners specialise in the Leak Detection and Repair inspections (LDAR) with particular focus on ensuring that all aspects of the report highlights asset integrity along with quantification of any leaks that are found. Producing accurate reports with quantification software, whilst not a requirement of BSEN 17628 now, gives clear indication of the level of any leak, something that will soon be a requirement. This will also dictate where mitigative action is most urgent at the plant, with the final report suggesting the necessary action. Our quantification software is market leading both in application and accuracy and is provided with a Word document for report, MP4 videos for leak, JPEG pictures for snapshots and excel spreadsheets for both maximum concentrations and leak values. All of this media will be available to the plant operators and management team following the assessment.

EnviroSense have formed a technical partnership with OSS Enviro given our expertise in the Anaerobic Digestion industry, and our extensive experience in the reporting process, to ensure that the entire methane leak assessment from first engagement to report issuance is smooth, transparent and to the highest available quality.

About the Technology

The EyeCGas 2.0 is the market leader in the field of gas detection, being the most sensitive device on the market. ATEX certified, with a 4 Year warranty, the camera can detect leaks from a safe distance, and enables our experts to access hard to reach areas that are not at ground level, something that other devices in the industry are unable to achieve. The camera uses the MW IR spectrum to detect Hydrocarbons and can detect over 400 different gases, without user interaction. This is coupled with the EyeCSite software that has inbuilt algorithms for accurately monitoring gas concentrations enabling positive reports and evidence of leaks, and just as importantly, non-leaks. The reports form the basis of applying for the operational permit and will be recognised as both compliant and acceptable in the format that we supply. We only use the best available technology in the industry to ensure that we are delivering the most professional, accurate and trustworthy service on the market.