what is methane?
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Methane (CH4) is a naturally
occurring gas. One of its major causes
is the decomposition of plant and
animal matter by methane producing
bacteria. This occurs in airless
environments such as marshes, the
guts of animals and landfill sites.
Methane is also trapped in pockets in
the earth's crust, which can be
disturbed and released during the mining of
fossil fuels. |
What harm can it do?
Methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas - 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. It is produced naturally, but over the last two centuries its concentration in the atmosphere has more than doubled as a direct result of human activities, leading to serious concerns about its impact on global warming.
The major man made sources of methane are natural gas extraction, waste disposal, livestock farming and coal mining.
Did you know?
- Nearly 40% of the methane released in the UK comes from landfill sites
- 25% of the CH4 produced in the UK is derived from livestock
- Over 1/3 of the food produced in Britain ends up as rotting rubbish
What can be done about it?
There are several ways to 'capture' methane and reduce the impact it has on the environment and two main ways of then combusting it - flaring and energy production.
Flaring
Methane escaping from sources such as coal mines and land fill sites is captured before it escapes into the atmosphere, by a series of underground pipes, and is delivered to a flare which is then ignited. Burning the gas turns it into CO2, reducing its climate change impact by a factor of 21.
Energy production
In addition to flaring it's possible to burn captured methane to generate electricity, which has the added effect of reducing the use of fossil fuels. This type of energy production can also be used with other sources of methane such as animal waste and biomass which would otherwise simply be left to rot and release methane into the atmosphere.
Captured methane can even be used to run buses and taxis!
Doing your bit
We offset the carbon dioxide produced by your car through the projects that capture methane. Preventing 1 tonne of methane being released into the atmosphere has the same beneficial effects as preventing the release of 21 tonnes of CO2. Reducing the amount of rubbish you produce that goes to landfill can also help - recycling is just one way you can do this.