New tech cuts barn methane emissions by up to 90%
Field trial in Denmark validates MEPS for dairy operations
21 August 2025
2 minute read
By: A field trial in Denmark found that Ambient Carbon's Methane Eradication Photochemical System (MEPS) eliminated up to 90 per cent of dilute methane emissions from dairy barn air. MEPS uses a patented gas-phase photochemical process to break down methane, according to a company-issued press release.
It is the first real-world validation of a scalable technology for reducing methane emissions from livestock barns and suggests such emissions can be remediated at commercial scale.
The trial, conducted in a 250-cow, open-sided dairy barn at the Hofmansgave Foundation in Denmark, tested a MEPS unit housed in a 40-foot shipping container. Earlier tests had used a smaller laboratory prototype.
“The system successfully oxidized methane from dairy barn ventilation air across varying concentration levels, proving that MEPS works under real agricultural conditions with co-pollutants present,” said Matthew Johnson, co-founder and chief science officer at Ambient Carbon. “At concentrations from 4.3 ppm to 44 ppm, MEPS eradicated up to 90 per cent of inlet air methane.”
MEPS is designed for methane concentrations below 1,000 ppm and does not interfere with cows, milk production or barn operations. In addition to removing methane, the system also captures ammonia and other odours while generating sterile water vapour and fertilizer. The company says this by-product may help reduce farm operating costs.
The modular system can be deployed in barns of various sizes as well as in manure storage facilities, biogas plants and wastewater treatment operations.
The trial was supported by Danone North America and Benton Group Dairies, a major Danone supplier. Other partners include the Hofmansgave Foundation and the PERMA Project consortium, which includes Arla, the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University and SKOV, with funding from Innovation Fund Denmark through AgriFoodTure.
“We’re pleased with these initial results, as there is a strong need for technologies like MEPS to support the future of farming,” said Jessie Copeland, head of regenerative agriculture at Danone North America. “The success in Denmark paves the way for further collaborations between Danone and Ambient Carbon.”
“Benton Dairies places a strong emphasis on conservation,” said Chris Williams, conservation lead at Benton Dairies. “MEPS is a non-invasive technology that will remove more methane from our farms than any solution we’ve encountered. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with Ambient Carbon.”
“This demonstration validates our approach and shows that we can achieve the performance metrics needed for broader adoption across agriculture,” said Dave Kenney, CEO of Ambient Carbon. “Support from partners like Danone has been essential in reaching this point.”
