Researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory have developed a lidar-based methane detection system capable of spotting even small leaks from over 1,000 feet away. By integrating advanced laser amplification with real-time atmospheric sensing, the Lidar laser enables early leak detection from drones and aircraft. It could be a powerful new tool for reducing greenhouse gases and minimizing financial losses in the natural gas industry.
The energy sector loses an estimated 3 % of its annual natural gas output to leaks, equating to nearly $1 billion in lost revenue annually. Beyond the financial cost, methane is a potent greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the warming power of CO2 over a 20-year period, making its rapid detection a key priority for climate mitigation.
Despite growing regulatory pressure, most existing leak detection methods like handheld sensors, infrared cameras, and optical gas analyzers, fall short. They often lack the sensitivity or coverage needed for large-scale, real-time monitoring. Many require close-range inspection, making them time-consuming, labor-intensive, and impractical for surveying vast pipeline networks or remote infrastructure.
To resolve these limitations, researchers at MIT have turned to a remote sensing technology with far greater reach and precision: lidar.
The Science Behind the Sensors
The lidar system is built around a specialized optical amplifier known as a Slab-Coupled Optical Waveguide Amplifier (SCOWA), originally developed at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The team adapted SCOWA to emit high-powered laser pulses at 1.65 microns, a wavelength strongly absorbed by methane molecules in the atmosphere.
This wavelength-specific design allows the sensor to detect subtle changes in backscattered light caused by methane absorption, giving it the ability to detect and quantify gas concentrations from airborne platforms. The laser’s high output power and narrow spectral linewidth make it possible to isolate methane’s signature from other atmospheric components with high accuracy.
These sensors integrate SCOWA with a lidar system that emits laser pulses toward ground infrastructure. When methane is present, it absorbs specific wavelengths, and the system picks up the resulting attenuation in the reflected signal. Algorithms then analyze the data as it is produced to identify and map methane plumes in 3D, enabling precise leak localization from the air.
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Field-Proven Performance
Extensive field testing has demonstrated the system’s ability to detect methane leaks as small as a few parts per billion from over 1,000 feet away, an order of magnitude improvement over most commercial alternatives. The combination of spectral sensitivity and high-resolution mapping enables faster detection and response times, significantly reducing the risk of long-term undetected leaks.
Its deployment on drones and aircraft also allows rapid surveying of large, inaccessible, or hazardous areas without putting personnel at risk. This mobility, combined with real-time analytics, supports wide-area monitoring with a level of coverage and responsiveness previously unattainable with ground-based methods.
Industry Adoption and Regulatory Support
Several major natural gas producers have already begun integrating the lidar system into routine leak detection programs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also approved the technology for regulatory use, citing its potential to enhance compliance while reducing emissions and operational costs.
By offering precision and scalability, the technology meets a growing industry demand for solutions that align environmental responsibility with operational efficiency.
Reference
Press Release. MIT News. Lidar helps gas industry find methane leaks and avoid costly losses. Accessed on 12th September 2025. https://news.mit.edu/2025/lidar-helps-gas-industry-find-methane-leaks-avoid-costly-losses-0912