Ambient Carbon: Reducing Methane Emissions for Danone & Arla

Methane may not be the first to pop into your head when you think of greenhouse gases. Yet, for agriculture to lessen its contribution to global warming, this needs to change.

Known for having a more pronounced effect on global warming than carbon dioxide in the short term, methane from human activities is significantly attributed to agriculture, making up nearly half of these emissions. With the world population on track to hit 10 billion within the next 35 years, tackling these emissions is more crucial than ever.

Livestock and rice fields lead the charge as prime sources within the sector. Stepping into this environment is Ambient Carbon, teaming up with Benton Group Dairies. They're trialling their Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) prototype, a first in non-intrusive tech for curbing methane from dairy barns. Notably, Danone North America, which gets its milk supply from Benton, is also on board through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The initiative starts with fitting methane sensors at Benton's Indiana farm, setting the stage for the MEPS prototype's deployment and testing in early 2025.

“Benton Dairies places a substantial emphasis on conservation,” says Chris Williams, Conservation Lead at Benton Dairies. 

“We are committed to increasing our positive environmental influence while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. MEPS is a non-invasive technology that will remove more methane from our farms than any available technology we’ve encountered.

“We are excited to work alongside Ambient Carbon to push the boundaries of what sustainable milk production can be.” 

The drivers behind Ambient Carbon

Founded in Denmark in 2017, Ambient Carbon's mission pivots around crafting and rolling out technology that meaningfully curtails greenhouse gas emissions.

“We believe that by 2030, Ambient Carbon will be eliminating well over one gigaton of CO₂ equivalent annually by destroying methane from dairy barns and other low-concentration methane sources such as wastewater treatment plants and biogas plants,” says David S. Miller, Ambient Carbon’s Co-Founder and COO.

Unpacking the Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS)

So, what’s MEPS? At its core, it's a system designed to drastically reduce methane emissions right at the source, be it dairy cattle or other primary emitters, preventing its spread into the atmosphere.

In essence, Ambient Carbon hails it as the sole scalable and financially viable option for neutralising low-concentration methane. Through a unique gas-phase photochemical approach, MEPS simulates atmospheric methane destruction. It's about combining chlorine atoms with UV light inside a reaction chamber, breaking down methane at the source and circumventing its release. This system, fuelled by nothing more than salt water and UV light, stands out for its ambient operation, automation, and efficiency.

“We have found that chlorine is the Achilles heel of methane,” says Matthew Johnson, Co-Founder and CSO of Ambient Carbon.

“MEPS only requires salt water (sodium chloride) and UV light to break down methane. It operates at ambient temperatures, so it is safe, and it’s automated, efficient and highly cost-effective. Methane mitigation technologies such as regenerative thermal oxidation operate with expensive catalysts at high temperatures and aren’t cost effective for the relatively low concentrations of methane in a dairy barn. 

“MEPS has world record efficiency for the low concentrations found in agriculture and waste management. Field-testing MEPS in Indiana will showcase its advantages and give us data showing just how efficient and cost-effective MEPS will be for dairy farms. MEPS is located outside the barn and doesn’t disturb dairy operations.” 

Expanding horizons for methane mitigation

Ambient Carbon isn't just making strides in the US, it's striving for a global reduction in methane emissions. The field-tests in Indiana with Danone and Benton are part of a broader ambition that includes trials in Denmark, in collaboration with dairy giant Arla and supported by Innovation Fund Denmark and the EU.

These dual endeavours aim to fine-tune MEPS for large-scale pilot runs by late 2025, eyeing a full market release and wider deployment the following year.

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