EREF launches second controlled release study to improve methane detection at landfills

Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF), Raleigh, North Carolina, has announced that following its initial controlled release emissions study earlier this year, researchers at St. Francis Xavier University’s FluxLab are set to launch their next phase of research on methane emissions measurement technologies.

This second phase will evaluate a wider range of technologies and conditions to advance the accuracy and reliability of methane detection in landfill environments.

The first part 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 that study highlighted significant variability in performance across methodologies, with no single technology emerging as a clear frontrunner for scalable implementation.

RELATED: EREF helps waste and recycling industry improve safety

This next phase, scheduled for later in November, will allow researchers to consider how varying weather and wind conditions affect emissions measurements, particularly in relation to site topography and meteorological influences, EREF says. In addition to higher release rates, it will bring together a diverse array of technology providers, including start-ups, consulting firms, NGOs and researchers from the U.S., Canada and Europe.

Participants will test several methodologies, including:

• Continuous Sensors
• Surface Emissions Monitoring, including ground and drone-based methods
• Satellite Imaging
• Drones
• Truck-Mounted Sensors

Learn more about EREF at www.erefdn.org.