Methane emissions come from hundreds of source types—from cracked landfill covers and leaking gas wells to flooded rice paddies. Each source has distinct characteristics, and understanding these differences is critical to matching each source with the right mitigation solution.

Our approach to source identification

The data visualization below breaks out specific emissions sources, moving from a broad sector level to a specific source, such as enteric methane emitted from cows in an open field or leaks from infrastructure in a waste-to-energy facility. We quantify emissions sources on the subcategory level based on best-available scientific literature. These sources are then characterized based on the concentration of methane emitted; whether the source is a point source, area source, or diffuse; and whether the source is a fugitive leak from existing infrastructure.

Understanding global methane emissions

Different measurements, approaches, and models lead to varying quantifications.

Emissions inventories disagree. Bottom-up estimates are built from activity data and emission factors and can vary based on methodology, as well as data availability and quality. These estimations often diverge from satellite and aircraft measurements, which can cover larger areas but often miss small, distributed, and diffuse sources.  Total methane emissions from subcategories are ballpark figures that are robust enough to understand the magnitude of emissions, but carry a great amount of uncertainty. These uncertainties can be viewed through the error bars in the graph below. 

Looking ahead, we aim to match methane sources with the solutions best suited to address their unique characteristics.

For each emission source, we first characterize the source and understand how the emissions are generated and managed. We then identify solutions that could be applied today. These solutions may include improved practices, technologies, remediation approaches, or biological interventions. The matching process considers not only the characteristics of the emission source, but also the characteristics and requirements of each solution, allowing us to assess compatibility and feasibility.

The Carbon Containment Lab is building a tool that matches methane emission sources with potential solutions

Eventually, the CC Lab’s Methane Opportunity Analysis Tool will match emission sources with specific technologies based not only on where those technologies have previously been deployed, but also on how the characteristics of each source align with a technology’s function and requirements. The tool will help identify economic potential, highlight companies and initiatives already active in the space, and pinpoint where regulation could help accelerate impact.