Improving greenhouse gas measurements
Under the FTO scheme, a consortium of organisations, including Deltares, has received a grant for the FTO Sustainability programme. As part of this programme, experimental facilities are being built to support research into climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. As a consortium partner, Deltares is working on the further development of its own greenhouse gas facility.
Greenhouse gas facility: understanding emissions from water and subsurface systems
The Dutch government aims to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. European and international agreements have been made to address climate change, such as the Paris Agreement. The ultimate European goal is to be climate-neutral by 2050, and the Netherlands has committed to this target.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to combat climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from water and subsurface systems play a significant role in this. The greenhouse gas facilities enable targeted research into the interaction between water, soil and air, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Research into greenhouse gas emissions
Deltares is already conducting research into greenhouse gas emissions and related topics, including emissions from peatlands, surface water and the impact of dredging and earthworks. This knowledge enables the effects of interventions in water and subsurface systems on the greenhouse gas balance to be analysed, and appropriate measures to be proposed.
With the grant for the FTO Sustainability programme, made possible by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, further investment is being made in high-quality and future-proof facilities, and Deltares is exploring its measurement and monitoring of greenhouse gases in water and subsurface to create a fully-fledged greenhouse gas facility.
This facility enables us and our knowledge partners to gain a better understanding of the origins and distribution of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to the topics mentioned above, we are considering research into Nature-based Solutions, mangroves and salt marshes, in the (North) Sea, as well as carbon sequestration.
Like our other facilities, the greenhouse gas facility is therefore explicitly intended not only for our own research but also for knowledge partners, public authorities and the business community.
Equipment
Below is a selection of the equipment at the greenhouse facility and the purposes for which we use it.
Field
Our field equipment enables us to conduct research into both local conditions and the immediate impact of interventions in the local system, as well as the long-term effects of such interventions.
For example, our solar-powered EC (eddy covariance) masts allow us to measure CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes over the long term in remote peat meadow areas, whilst so-called ‘bubble traps’ enable us to investigate the current composition of gas bubbles by ‘capturing’ them and analysing them in our Delta Lab.
Delta-lab
In the Delta-lab, we can conduct research into the interaction between water, subsurface and air in a controlled setting. We analyse the chemical, elemental and isotopic composition of gases, liquids and soil samples under specific conditions.
This enables us not only to characterise the composition and origin of greenhouse gases such as CO₂, methane and nitrous oxide, but also to explain which microbial and chemical processes in water and subsurface influence these.
Data
The measurement set-ups mentioned above generate a vast amount of data, which we store in accordance with the FAIR principles. FAIR stands for findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable.
With these insights, appropriate measures and targeted interventions can be proposed, as in the research projects
Research programmes and collaborations
POKONABO
Potentiële Koolstofopslag in Natuur en Bodem (Potential Carbon Storage in Nature and Soil) does research focusing on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage within Nature-based Solutions, such as constructed wetlands.
Based on multi-year measurements, the research investigates how management can contribute to additional carbon sequestration.
FTO Sustainability
In the FTO Sustainability programme, Deltares is collaborating within a consortium comprising TNO, Wageningen Research, RIVM, NLR, Naturalis, KNMI and Deltares on research into climate change, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
NL2120
The NL2120 programme focuses on applying nature-based solutions, such as rewetting peat meadow areas, to make the Netherlands climate-resilient and future-proof.
NOBV – National Research Programme on Greenhouse Gases in Peat Meadow Areas
The long-term NOBV research programme, coordinated by Deltares, which maps emissions from peat meadows and the effects of measures on a national scale.
The aim is to reduce CO₂ emissions from peatlands by 1 million tonnes. Part of the programme involves the development of advanced models (SOMERS) for national emissions estimates.
Ecoshape
The Ecoshape partnership between public and private sector organisations aimed at developing sustainable solutions for water management in coastal, delta and riverine areas by utilising natural processes (Nature-based Solutions).
We remain committed to investment
As Deltares, we will continue to invest in a high-quality, future-proof greenhouse gas facility for the Netherlands in the coming years.
We do this in response to specific project enquiries from the business community, as well as to support knowledge development and meet the needs of our government.
Learn more on our expertise page Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
