Researchers from the Greenhouse Gas Research Group based at Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway, met with representatives of Turkmenistan’s oil and gas sector and relevant ministries during their recent visit to the UK in October.

Rebecca Fisher, Dave Lowry and James France with members of the UK delegation from Turkmenistan

The familiarisation visit was jointly organized by the British Embassy in Turkmenistan and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to study methods for measuring and monitoring methane emissions, as well as technologies to reduce them. It was arranged under the EU project “Policy Dialogue and Climate Action 2024–2029.”

Royal Holloway is acknowledged as a global centre of expertise in the field of methane emissions, monitoring and researching concentrations of methane the Earth’s atmosphere, and Professor of Atmospheric Science, Rebecca Fisher commented:

“ We were delighted to meet with the delegation to discuss efforts to reduce methane emissions, monitor emissions by mobile instruments or satellite, prevent uncontrolled methane releases into the atmosphere, and manage gas flaring. Participating in knowledge exchange visits like these will help support the practical implementation of methane emissions reduction measures in Turkmenistan and elsewhere, contributing to the objectives of the Global Methane Pledge.”

During the visit, the representatives studied British approaches to monitoring, verifying and reducing methane emissions in London, Aberdeen, Peterhead and the Teesside region. The program included briefings with the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and other government bodies responsible for climate policy and methane emissions reduction. Meetings with Offshore Energies UK and Score Group Limited focused on industry practices and technologies for reducing methane leaks and the delegation also discussed satellite-based monitoring with GHGSat.

Royal Holloway’s greenhouse gas lab studies all major greenhouse gases – but especially methane, which is arguably the easiest to bring under control as it is only in the air for roughly a decade before it is destroyed by natural reactions. We led the UK Natural Environment Research Council’s Project MOYA - The Global Methane budget, a consortium of 14 institutions including universities and also the British Antarctic Survey and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, looking at methane all over the world but especially in tropical Africa (Upper Congo basin) and Amazonia. We also maintain long-term measurement in the high Arctic (Spitsbergen).

Here in London, we have one of the world’s longest urban records of greenhouse gases and we are mapping gas leaks, cows and landfills all over the UK with our mobile laboratory: all part of the gasbusters’ job.

To find out more about the Greenhouse Gas Research Group's methane emissions research click here: