{"id":9794,"date":"2026-04-17T10:13:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T08:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fzn.thga.de\/?page_id=9794"},"modified":"2026-04-17T16:21:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T14:21:28","slug":"metsense","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/fzn.thga.de\/en\/forschung\/metsense\/","title":{"rendered":"METSENSE"},"content":{"rendered":"
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METSENSE<\/span><\/h1>\n

Development of an automated low-cost sensor network for continuous methane detection at gas facilities<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n\n\t
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3D model of the UST operational site in Oberbierwang | Image: FZN<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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The earliest possible detection of gas leaks on operational sites and in their surroundings has been a central task of safety and environmental monitoring in the oil and gas industry for years. With the entry into force of \u201cRegulation (EU) 2024\/1787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019\/942,\u201d the recording of methane emissions has gained further importance. To address this, the project aims to develop a decentralized sensor network based on low-cost components, with centralized data processing and LoRaWAN transmission.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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The aim of the research project \u201cMETSENSE\u201d is to comprehensively investigate the fundamental feasibility, limitations, and optimization potential of low-cost LoRaWAN sensor networks for methane detection and dispersion modeling. The methodological approach includes both the systematic laboratory characterization of low-cost sensors and extensive long-term field research at the Bierwang porous storage site.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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1 March 2026 \u2013 31 October 2028<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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The methodology developed will first be integrated and tested in cooperation with Uniper Energy Storage (UST) at the Bierwang porous storage site, as it represents a particularly interesting research location from a scientific perspective. While the project focuses primarily on the detection of methane, trials on the future-relevant storage of hydrogen are already being conducted at the site. The complex infrastructure offers the opportunity to validate methane detection approaches under real-world conditions and to develop intelligent detection algorithms that make optimal use of the existing sensor infrastructure (wind measurements, meteorological stations).<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Main areas of work<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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