Why aren’t efforts to capture and profitably use methane emissions more widespread?
Even with these multiple benefits, methane recovery is not widespread for several reasons. First, methane is generally a secondary issue in the industrial processes from which it is emitted. Coal mines, for example, want to vent methane from the mine workings because it is explosive and historically, mining companies have not viewed methane as an energy resource in its own right. Second, those responsible for the emissions may not be familiar with the technologies available for methane recovery or the potential for profitable projects. This is especially true in developing countries where increased information exchange and technical training would be beneficial to generating support for methane recovery projects. Finally, poorly functioning energy markets and financially-insolvent utilities and municipalities within many countries fail to provide the private sector with a climate that will attract their investment in projects to capture and utilize methane.
