Methane to Markets
An International Partnership to Reduce Methane Emissions
The Methane to Markets (M2M) Partnership is an action-oriented initiative that will reduce global methane emissions to enhance economic growth, promote energy security, improve the environment, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Other benefits include improving mine safety, reducing waste, and improving local air quality. The initiative focuses on cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. It will be done internationally through collaboration among countries worldwide, with strong private sector participation. The Methane to Markets Partnership initially targets three major methane sources: landfills, underground coal mines, and natural gas and oil systems, with a subcommittee organized to address each one. This list may expand in the future.
Objectives
USAID seeks to develop alliances that use innovative approaches and promise measurable impacts in support of the core activities of the Methane to Markets Partnership. These core activities include:
- Identifying and promoting areas of bilateral, multilateral, and private sector collaboration on methane recovery and use.
- Developing improved emissions estimates and identifying the largest relevant emission sources to facilitate project development.
- Identifying cost-effective opportunities to recover methane emissions for energy production, and developing potential financing mechanisms to encourage investment.
- Improving the legal, regulatory, financial, institutional and other conditions necessary to attract investment in methane recovery and utilization projects.
- Identifying and implementing collaborative projects aimed at addressing specific challenges to methane recovery, such as raising awareness in key industries, removing barriers to project development and implementation, identifying project opportunities, and demonstrating technologies.
- Developing collaborative action plans that outline a series of concrete activities and actions that directly support the core goals and functions of the Partnership.
- Developing and implementing a process for evaluating progress and reporting results.
About the Partnership
The partnership was launched in November 2004 by 14 countries. Partnership goals will be achieved through collaboration among developed countries, developing countries, and countries with economies in transition, together with strong participation from the private sector. A Project Network has been established to obtain private sector input. US efforts are led and coordinated by the US Environmental Protection Agency and involves USAID, the Department of Energy, the US Trade and Development Agency, and the Department of State. USAID is currently soliciting partnership proposals for projects in Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and Ukraine. New countries can request to join the Partnership at any time by following the steps outlined by the Partnership. The private sector, development banks, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations are encouraged to participate in the Partnership through becoming a member of the Project Network. For details on the Methane to Markets Partnership and opportunities for methane recovery and use, please visit:
Current Initiatives
USAID projects may fall under the current M2M categories: landfill gas, underground coal mines, and natural gas and oil systems, but will expand into other sectors in line with the evolution of the M2M Partnership.
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| Covered area of a Brazilian landfill to be used |
Brazil
In Brazil, 84% of methane emissions come from municipal solid wastes. Landfills across Brazil have an estimated overall generation rate of 303 to 578 million cubic meters per year, capable of providing 60 to 144 MW of electricity. Nevertheless, very little methane is recovered from landfills. This project will support the implementation of a landfill gas fired power plant in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará State. It will include technical assistance; a feasibility study; a social inclusion activity to benefit the communities of waste scavengers living at the landfill surroundings; and a workshop directed to other municipalities that have landfills with potential use for methane recovery.
India
USAID/India is currently assessing the three sectors, and is working to increase understanding of best practices in solid waste collection. They are also prepared to explore possibilities for methane capture primarily related to industrial and municipal waste. The Mission plans to issue a tender linked to the Global Development Alliance (GDA) to build alliances around M2M. GDA works to enhance development impact by mobilizing the ideas, efforts and resources of the public sector with those of the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Alliance partners combine resources, risks and rewards in pursuit of common objectives and projects. More information on GDA is available at www.usaid.gov/gda.
Mexico
The USAID/Mexico initiative will initially include two components. First, USAID will support two pilot projects at PEMEX (Mexican state oil company) facilities to reduce or eliminate fugitive methane emissions and venting losses from oil and gas distribution and storage systems. Second, USAID will help review institutional, legal and economic barriers for landfill gas use, leading to the creation of a guide on financing methane capture and its beneficial use. This will culminate with two preliminary feasibility studies on landfill gas utilization in Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo. In addition, if agricultural waste is added to the program, USAID may conduct sector reviews for feedlot wastes, including alternative uses for biogas from swine and dairy farms. The effort could include development of a training manual, as well as a pilot biodigester project to recover methane.
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| Drill to be used in the Ukraine coal mine methane project |
Ukraine
USAID/Ukraine funds a U.S. Department of Labor program that seeks to demonstrate the technical effectiveness of enhanced horizontal drilling techniques to extract methane from coal seams during mining. U.S.-made horizontal drills (pictured at right) will be installed at two mines, the Krasnolimanskaya mine in Donetsk, and one other mine yet to be identified. Ukrainian crews will be trained to maintain and operate the drills. Coal mine companies will use the extracted methane in boilers or for other uses. Preliminary estimates suggest a potential reduction of 100,000 tonnes/year of CO2 from the Krasnolimanskaya mine.
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