Hardware Podcasts

Data centers’ looming methane surge

Catalyst · 22 Oct 2026 · 31m

What this episode covers

Olya Irzak, founder and CEO of Frost Methane Labs, explains how behind-the-meter natural gas generation for data centers creates massive methane emissions through upstream leaks, facility leaks, and engine slip. She details why running reciprocating engines at partial loads significantly increases methane slip and argues that low-cost mitigation strategies like certified low-leak gas procurement and catalyst additions can cut these emissions without delaying projects. Irzak highlights that current hyperscaler emissions reporting often undercounts these impacts by relying on averages rather than actual leak data.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Frost Methane Labs, Energy Impact Partners, GridBeyond, EnergyHub, RMI, BP
Also
Permian basin, Uinta basin, Marcellus

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