# Data centers’ looming methane surge

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2026-10-22
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge#t=7) Introduction: The Methane Problem in Data Center Gas
- [3:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge#t=207) Methane Potency and Value Chain Leak Sources
- [4:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge#t=289) Upstream Leaks: Wellheads and Gathering Pipes
- [7:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge#t=442) Facility Leaks and Engine Methane Slip
- [11:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge#t=681) Total Emissions Impact: 380 Megatons of CO2e
- [14:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge#t=890) Mitigation Strategies: Low-Leak Gas and Catalysts
- [23:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge#t=1422) Hyperscaler Accounting and Industry Leadership

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Frost Methane Labs (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- GridBeyond (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- RMI (company)
- Permian basin (other)
- Uinta basin (other)
- Marcellus (other)
- BP (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Forgotten 25%: How Project Canary Is Detecting Climate's Methane Impact](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-07-31-the-forgotten-25-how-project-canary-is-detecting-climates-methane-impact) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-10-22-data-centers-looming-methane-surge. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.