Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Lake Kivu contains large quantities of dissolved methane that can be exploited for clean energy production to be distributed in mini-grid network benefitting local communities. The first purpose of this project is to implement our methane capture technology on a local scale and create mini-methane grids fuelled through gas harvested from the upper and mid water column of Lake Kivu with our highly innovative technology for lower cost clean energy. The second goal is to test/optimise our technology at a location where we can access a wide spectrum of methane concentrations. There is no better location in the world than Lake Kivu. The partnership with Shema Power Lake Kivu (SPLK) was formed in 2022. For them, the upper parts of the laker are currently unexploitable. However, with our technology, it could open up an entire source of low carbon energy to help power Rwanda.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Replaces/avoids GHGs (e.g., projects that replace sources of GHGs, such as the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, transport, or other energy uses), Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption), Removes/stores GHGs (e.g., projects that capture, sequester, or otherwise enhance the "sinks" that accumulate and store GHGs)

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Throughout this project we will encourage underrepresented groups to apply and join our team. We will provide training in methane measurement and analyses as well as workshops about the potential for methane harvesting for all interested parties. Bluemethane has as front of mind diversity and inclusion considerations for not only the employment at the facility and the hydropower operator‚ team but also on the overall project management (Bluemethane‚ CEO is a female founder).

By creating and installing methane harvesting and methane-to-energy conversion, we will supply communities living in the vicinity of lakes and reservoirs with an additional potential source of clean-power and income. The electricity created locally using Bluemethane methane capture technology will provide affordable electricity in remote places where the population density is too low to economically justify connecting that community to the national grid and represents a viable and cost effective solutions for the electrification of Rwandan communities through a decentralised energy system.

The International Labor Organization shows that implementing the Paris Agreement on Climate Change could create 18 million jobs by 2030.(ILO, 2018). Our project can significantly contribute to that inclusive transition by creating around 50 permanent and temporary jobs for each deployment during the pilot phase, and up to 13,650 jobs in its scaled-up form. Considering high emitting water bodies are often in developing countries, there is opportunity to invest in quality clean energy access for local communities outside of standard national grids (CPI, 2022b).

Bluemethane is aligned/contributes to achieving SDGs 7, 8, 9, 13.

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Mission Statement:

Bluemethane is a private limited company registered in England, UK. It was founded by Nestor and Louise who are obsessed with reducing methane emissions from water sources. This funding we are applying for is for our project based in Rwanda where we are partnering with Shema Power Lake Kivu. 

However, our ambitions are way beyond this proof of concept in Rwanda.

At Bluemethane, we are developing technology to permanently remove methane from water, reduce global warming and support the energy transition by unlocking a new source of bioenergy. We are starting with hydropower reservoirs, natural lakes, wastewater treatment, and will scale to non-hydropower reservoirs, rice cultivation and ultimately, natural bodies of water. These are found across the globe.