MONITOR Highlights

ARPA-E awardee Bridger Photonics, a Montana-based company developing methane detection technology, raised $55 million in funding from Beaverhead Partners, a syndicate composed of Madison Valley Partners, Carica Sustainable Investments, and Next Frontier Capital.

Part of ARPA-E’s mission is to overcome long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of energy technologies that reduce imports, improve efficiency, and reduce emissions. The Rebellion Photonics and University of Notre Dame projects focus on the latter piece of the mission, working to turn emissions reduction ideas into reality.

WEARABLE, CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING METHANE IMAGERS UPDATED: January 15, 2018PROJECT TITLE: goGCI: Portable Methane Detection SolutionPROGRAM: Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology to Obtain Reductions (MONITOR)AWARD: $4,250,000PROJECT TEAM: Rebellion PhotonicsPROJECT TERM: April 2015 – April 2018PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI): Robert Kester

A REGIONAL METHANE MONITORING SYSTEM UPDATED: January 16, 2018 PROJECT TITLE: Frequency Comb-Based Remote Methane Observation NetworkPROGRAM: Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology to Obtain Reductions (MONITOR)AWARD: $2,125,469

MOBILE LIDAR FOR METHANE DETECTION UPDATED: January 13, 2018 PROJECT TITLE: Mobile LiDAR Sensor for Rapid and Sensitive Methane Leak Detection ApplicationsPROGRAM: Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology to Obtain Reductions (MONITOR)AWARD: $2,556,529PROJECT TEAM: Bridger Photonics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln LaboratoryPROJECT TERM: June 2015 – June 2018

MINIATURIZED LASER POINT SENSOR FOR NATURAL GAS UPDATED: November 20, 2017PROJECT TITLE: Autonomous, High Accuracy Natural Gas Leak Detection SystemPROGRAM: Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology to Obtain Reductions (MONITOR)AWARD: $2,494,131PROJECT TEAM: Aeris Technologies, Inc. (Lead), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Rice UniversityPROJECT TERM: March 2015 – April 2018

On December 16, 2014, ARPA-E announced project selections for the MONITOR (Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology to Obtain Reductions) program, which seeks to develop low-cost, high sensitivity systems that detect, quantify, and locate emissions associated with the production and transportation of natural gas.

ARPA-E's Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology to Obtain Reductions (MONITOR) program, now in its second year, is making tremendous technical progress in developing low-cost, highly sensitive technologies for improved methane detection and measurement in the natural gas supply chain. MONITOR technologies are addressing shortcomings of existing technologies through several innovative approaches – such as remote sensing, advanced dispersion models, UAVs, and low cost print manufacturing, to name a few – that can cost-effectively estimate methane emission flow rates, localize the leak source, and provide continuous and remote monitoring. As a teaser for the entire portfolio, learn about three MONITOR project teams developing innovative technologies to detect methane.

Two new programs aim to detect and measure methane emissions and develop energy efficient heating and cooling systems.

The Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) today announced $60 million in funding for 22 innovative new projects aimed at detecting and measuring methane emissions and developing localized thermal management systems that reduce the energy needed to heat and cool buildings.