Taking offshore methane measurements to new levels
Understanding and addressing methane emissions is an important step toward net zero, but traditional methodologies of reporting emissions at source level are under increasing scrutiny.
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Achates Power
New test results show 10.6L opposed piston engines operating with target-beating reductions to criteria emissions
Challenge
Medium and heavy duty vehicles make up a relatively small proportion of road traffic, yet they present an outsized contribution to air pollution. Around the world, new regulations restricting emissions are being introduced in an attempt to improve air quality and population health, including standards coming into effect in California in 2027 that require all commercial diesel engines reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 90%.
Solution
Whilst combustion engines are still required by the demands of long-haul global trade, it is important to cut their emissions as much as possible. Achates Power has developed an opposed piston engine that substantially reduces emissions, whilst remaining suitable for commercial vehicle use. During the transition period needed to establish the energy infrastructure and other changes required for zero emissions, such modifications will help to quickly improve air quality.
Expanding impact
Results from the demonstration indicate that the technology would offer broad application, and the ability to meet the California Air Resources Board’s 2027 ultralow NO x regulations by a substantial margin.
Walmart will be piloting the engine in a Peterbilt 579 truck for their California operations later this year, and Achates Power is already working with a group of organizations to commercialize a heavy duty engine for series production in 2027.
Result
Achates Power successfully built and tested four 10.6L opposed-piston engines for the Heavy Duty Diesel Demonstration Programme, an initiative funded by various agencies in California. Measured results from the demonstrations show the engines achieving a 96% reduction in tailpipe NOx, a 75% reduction in engine-out particle matter compared to benchmark diesel engines, and a 7% reduction in carbon dioxide compared to U.S. regulatory standards.
The results were achieved with conventional, underfloor aftertreatment systems, making them significantly cheaper and less complex than other solutions.
What OGCI member companies are doing to reduce methane emissions
Member companies are expanding leak detection and repair campaigns, removing high-emitting devices, and reducing both flaring and venting.
TotalEnergies and Qnergy remove 98% of vented methane emissions
Across many of the world’s natural gas production fields, gas pneumatic devices used for process control and chemical injection vent methane directly into the air.
EXXONMOBIL – Methane management in unconventional operations
ExxonMobil is progressing a comprehensive methane management programme which is on track to meet its goal of reducing methane emissions by 15% in 2020, compared to 2016.
REPSOL – New generation membrane technology reduces emissions
In 2018, Repsol introduced a comprehensive set of internal metrics, targets and action plans to ensure meaningful progress towards climate change mitigation.
SAUDI ARAMCO – Getting results with leak detection and repair
Saudi Aramco’s leak detection and repair programme, enables the mitigation of fugitive leaks, one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the industry.
ENI – Investing in flaring reduction
Having reduced upstream operated carbon intensity by 20% since 2014, Eni is on track to achieve its company target of 43% reduction by 2025.
CNPC – Tackling methane emissions
Reducing upstream methane emissions from oil and gas operations is an important component of CNPC’s Green Action Plan
BP – Mapping and capping methane emissions with Kairos Aerospace
bp has pledged to measure its methane emissions by 2023 and has enlisted Kairos to conduct aerial surveys.
