California Climate Accountability Package: SB253, SB261, & SB252
1 min
Level
What is the California Climate Accountability Package, and how do SB 253 and SB 261 (SB 219), and SB 252 help the state work towards their environmental goals?
ESG / CSR
Industries
MEASURE
ACT
COMFORM
What Do We Call Fugitive Emissions?
Level
Key Topics You’ll Learn About in This Article
Explanation of what fugitive emissions are
What a fugitive emissions test is and its importance
The downsides of fugitive emissions and how to mitigate them
Between carbon emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, and fugitive emissions – it can be difficult to keep track of these different air pollutants and how they affect our everyday lives.
Fugitive emissions refer to accidental emissions, such as when you’re boiling a pot of water and make the kitchen more humid by default – even if it wasn’t the intention.
However, unlike most modern day kitchens where a ventilation system can help to soak up the extra moisture created by boiling a pot of water – getting rid of fugitive emissions aren’t nearly as easy.
In this article, we’ll explain what fugitive emissions are, examples of fugitive emissions, and how we can work together to stop fugitive emissions.
What Are Fugitive Emissions?
Fugitive emissions are unintentional emissions, often created by leakage or discharge of vapors and gasses released into the atmosphere from various industrial processes – such as in the processing, storage, and transportation of fossil fuels.
Fugitive emissions contaminate the surrounding air, leading to worsened air pollution – which is challenging to undo as fugitive emissions come from a nonpoint source and are difficult to detect.
Think of fugitive emissions in the same vein as an actual fugitive – someone who is on the run, who is being sought after by the police: but has little to no way to be tracked or found
“I have only seen one published study on fugitive emissions, from Cornell in the US. I’ve heard that study quote fugitive emissions at around 7%. It’s potentially an important issue but it’s a controllable issue. – (Dennis Cooke from The Conversation).”
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Fugitive emissions can come from several different components inside an active power plant, such as:
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Valves
Common leak points due to worn seals or faulty fittings that allow gases to escape into the atmosphere.
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Piping Flanges
Joints between pipes where small gaps or damaged gaskets can release fugitive emissions over time.
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Pumps
Pump seals can degrade from pressure or temperature changes, causing methane or VOC leaks.
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Storage Tanks
Emissions can occur from vents, hatches, or pressure relief valves in storage tanks containing volatile substances.
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Compressors
Compressors handling gas streams may leak through seals, connections, or worn components.
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Connectors & Fittings
Small but numerous components—when improperly tightened or aged—can collectively release significant emissions.
Why Should You Care about Fugitive Emissions?
Companies and individuals alike should be concerned about fugitive emissions as they contribute to global warming, impact our health, and can have an economic impact on your business.
- Environmental Impact – Fugitive emissions, especially methane, are such potent greenhouse gasses – they can trap up to 28 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. This means that the more we negate the current impact created by fugitive emissions, the more they will be able to run rampant and deter us from maintaining our 1.5°C threshold.
- Economic Loss – Finite resources, which often turn into fugitive emissions themselves, are already sparse – and losing them unintentionally could become costly for your company. Think in terms of a bakery that gets a moth infestation, and suddenly has to replace primary ingredients such as flour and sugar – the same goes for industrial businesses which rely on fossil fuels.
- Health Concerns – Fugitive emissions can contribute to poor air quality, putting immunocompromised people and those with various respiratory illnesses at greater risk of experiencing health issues.
The most challenging component of fugitive emissions is their inability to be quantified, as these emissions are never released on purpose – but as a byproduct of intense industrial activity.
What Is a Fugitive Emissions Test?
A fugitive emission test is a process of testing for harmful gasses, vapors, or other qualified fugitive emissions from a source – such as an industrial production site or even for the average commuter vehicle.
The main goal of conducting a fugitive emissions test is to ensure that a piece of equipment or vehicle as a whole will not contribute to excess fugitive emissions, helping the country, state, or even county maintain an adequate level of air quality.
“Conducting a fugitive emissions test can help states, cities, and even entire nations to gain control over the current amount of fugitive emissions being released – as it can help to find previously unidentified sources, leaks, and inefficiencies in various industrial processes.”
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Main goals of conducting a fugitive emissions test
Additional goals of conducting a fugitive emissions test include:
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Improving Equipment Quality & Efficiency
Searching for leaks or other inefficiencies in equipment, such as valves, flanges, seals, and pipelines – as identifying these inconsistencies can help to improve the equipment’s
energy efficiency
and reduce excess emissions.
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Determine Type of Fugitive Emissions
As there are an infinite amount of different fugitive emissions, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and various methane emissions, a fugitive emissions test can help determine the type of gas being emitted and how it impacts its immediate surroundings.
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Compliance & Avoid Legal Fines
Some states in the U.S., such as Maryland, have employed a
Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program
to require all new cars registered in the state to pass a general emissions test to help the state achieve its climate goals. Therefore, this can help to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and standards.
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Reducing Environmental Impact
Identifying and repairing fugitive leaks contributes to cleaner air, lower methane emissions, and helps organizations progress toward their sustainability goals.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also requires fugitive emissions testing under laws such as the Clean Air Act – serving as an effort to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
How Do You Detect Fugitive Emissions?
Numerous methods can be used to identify fugitive emissions, such as by using ultrasound cameras, ambient air monitoring, and sniffer devices.
Here’s a breakdown of the various methods used to determine the source of fugitive emissions:
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Optical Gas Imaging (OGI)
One of the most well-known methods to detect fugitive emissions, Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) uses specialised cameras to find leaks – such as to determine the source of excess methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
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Sniffer Devices
In the same way that detection dogs in the airport will try to sniff out your bag for explosives or other illegal items, sniffer devices are handheld detectors that can measure the concentration of a specific gas.
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Ultrasound Detection
Through the use of soundwaves, ultrasonic detection devices can determine highly pressurised leaks.
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Soap Bubble Test
A low-tech, affordable way to check for fugitive emissions is to use a soap solution on a piece of equipment to visually identify leaks – as bubbles will form if there is a leak in the machinery.
Businesses looking to audit their efforts to identify fugitive emissions can strive to follow the ISO 15848 standard, which qualifies the procedures conducted to verify fugitive emissions tests and determines how valve and body seals can prevent leaks and mitigate fugitive emissions.
Examples of Fugitive Emissions
While fugitive emissions can take on many different forms, such as in aerosols, dust, and fine particles – but the most intense fugitive emissions are greenhouse gasses such as methane and refrigerants.
The most common source of fugitive emissions are faulty valves, pumps, and piping systems – of which will often unintentionally release harmful refrigerants and methane emissions in the atmosphere, impacting our ozone layer.
Examples of greenhouse gasses and volatile organic compounds that may be detected in a fugitive emissions test include:
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Methane
A potent greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and is often released from oil and gas operations, landfills, and agriculture.
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Carbon Dioxide
The most common greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
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Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Man-made gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning that have high global warming potential when released into the atmosphere.
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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Organic chemicals that evaporate easily and contribute to air pollution and ground-level ozone formation.
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Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆)
Used as an insulating gas in electrical equipment — it has an extremely high global warming potential and long atmospheric lifespan.
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Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
Emitted from agricultural activities and combustion processes, it significantly contributes to global warming and ozone depletion.
The table below will explain how these different fugitive emissions impact the environment:
| Fugitive Emission | Environmental Impact |
|---|---|
| 🔥Methane | Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, approximately 25 times more effective than CO₂ at trapping heat over 100 years. It contributes to global warming, and its leaks from oil, gas, and agriculture sectors accelerate climate change. |
| 💨Carbon Dioxide | CO₂ is a primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. Fugitive emissions from industrial processes and fossil fuel combustion increase atmospheric concentrations, leading to rising global temperatures and ocean acidification. |
| ❄️Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) | HFCs are synthetic gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning with high global warming potential (GWP). Even small leaks have significant climate impacts, as HFCs can be thousands of times more potent than CO₂. |
| 🧪Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) | VOCs contribute to ground-level ozone (smog) formation when they react with nitrogen oxides in sunlight. This degrades air quality, harms respiratory health, and damages crops and ecosystems. |
| ⚡Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) | SF₆ is a potent greenhouse gas with a GWP over 23,000 times that of CO₂. Used in electrical equipment, its leaks have a long atmospheric lifespan, making it a significant contributor to climate change despite low quantities. |
| 🌍Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) | N₂O is emitted from agricultural activities, fossil fuel combustion, and industrial processes. It contributes to both global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer. |
Where Are Fugitive Emissions Found?
Fugitive emissions are most frequently found in the oil and gas industry, coal mining, and other various industrial operations.
Here are the two main examples of fugitive emissions sources:
Methane
Methane can escape pipes, compressors, and valves in transportation and processing industries. In addition to this, methane is a by-product of coal formation – which is one of the reasons why companies like Apple will try to enable sustainable minerals to manufacture their electronics.
Refrigerants
Air conditioning systems and other refrigeration devices are increasingly being normalised around the world as global temperatures heat up, but the issue with this is that hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) can leak and exacerbate climate change.
Additional examples of fugitive emissions include sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) from electrical switchgear and nitrous oxide from wastewater treatment plants.
Why Are Fugitive Emissions Bad for the Planet?
Fugitive emissions are a major concern for the planet seeing as they are undetectable emissions and exacerbate the current climate crisis.
As fugitive emissions have a higher potential to warm our planet, with VOCs contributing to ground-level ozone and methane emissions being able to trap 100 times more heat than carbon dioxide emissions.
“It’s true that fugitive emissions have an impact on our global economy and our health, but the primary cause for concern is how fugitive emissions will continue to heat up our planet until we find effective solutions to stop them.”
Here are some more reasons why fugitive emissions are bad for the planet:
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Failure to Meet Climate Goals
Efforts like the Paris Climate Agreement can struggle if hard-to-detect fugitive emissions persist worldwide.
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Constantly Shifting Laws
Nations may need to regularly adjust climate legislation because sources of fugitive emissions are difficult to pinpoint.
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Impact on Globalisation
Our global economy depends on transport; rising unchecked emissions can force cutbacks to reduce pollution.
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Reduced Air Quality
VOCs encourage ground-level ozone, worsening air quality and health outcomes.
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Damage to Ecosystems
Methane and other leaks can heat oceans and pollute water/soil, harming surrounding biodiversity.
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Higher Compliance Costs
Persistent leaks increase monitoring, repair, and reporting costs as companies scale detection programs to stay compliant.
Luckily, there are many methods and devices that can be used to monitor and manage fugitive emissions – such as by employing stricter regulations and utilising leak detection and repair (LDAR) devices.
How Can We Stop Fugitive Emissions?
We can combat fugitive emissions by encouraging companies to better monitor and manage leak detection, requiring fugitive emissions tests, and seeking to develop more innovative and efficient equipment design.
“Mitigating fugitive emissions entirely is a tall order, but it is entirely possible to significantly reduce the amount of methane emissions and refrigerants we emit into the atmosphere.”
The interactive flip cards (move cursor over card to flip) will reveal some ways we could stop fugitive emissions:
🧯 Improved Leak Maintenance
Industrial sites should use leak detection tools — such as infrared cameras — to monitor fugitive emissions in their earliest stages and prevent excess leaks later.
⚙️ Innovative Equipment
Developing and securing industrial equipment with modern sealing technologies can significantly reduce leaks and minimise fugitive emissions.
🏛️ New Policies for Emissions
Creating standardised, national, or local fugitive emissions policies helps reduce emissions before they start — for example, by requiring emissions testing for new vehicles.
🔬 Regular Monitoring Programs
Implementing ongoing monitoring and maintenance schedules allows facilities to detect leaks early and ensure compliance with emissions standards.
Ultimately, fugitive emissions will be one of the more difficult challenges in the fight against climate change – but by employing stricter emission regulations and monitoring leaks in their earlier stages, we can successfully mitigate fugitive emissions.
At Greenly, we're committed to fighting against fugitive emissions and much more – take a look at some of success in sustainability so far in our video below:
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What About Greenly?
If reading this article on fugitive emissions has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
It can be overwhelming to figure out how to effectively reduce your company's fugitive emissions as they can be challenging to identify, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you find ways to ensure your company is complying with all current and future environmental regulations.
Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.
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