By Khalida Sarwari
PG&E unveiled a new car-mounted device in Santa Clara today that can detect trace amounts of natural gas in the atmosphere in real-time to help prevent any future gas leak disaster.
The device, which will eventually replace the current system that detects gas leaks, was designed by Picarro. The Santa Clara-based company makes gas analyzers for greenhouse gas measurement, air quality, and food safety, among other markets.
The technology will be mounted on electric vehicles that will move through neighborhoods and notify nearby crews if it detects a gas leak in the area.
The device can detect natural gas leaks more quickly and more frequently and uses methane sensitivity to differentiate between gas leaks and methane from other sources to eliminate false negatives as well as false positives.
“This product is revolutionary,” said PG&E’s executive vice president of gas operations Nick Stavropoulos at a demonstration event in Santa Clara today. “It is unlike anything that exists in the world today.”
Whereas the current system detects leaks in pipelines and distribution lines once every five years, the new device can detect leaks every year.
Moreover, the new device is sensitive to natural gas leaks using technology that blocks all other gases. Traditional detection devices locate hydrocarbons, which could include even decaying vegetation.
Picarro CEO Mike Woelk said the device would help improve leak detection to increase customer safety and reduce monitoring and maintenance costs.
There is no cost to PG&E customers.
PG&E, the first natural gas utility in the world to use the new tool, has initially ordered two devices to study its capabilities. Eventually the company hopes to have 25 vehicles.
“PG&E has the responsibility to make sure that the goods they’re delivering are quick, safe and healthy,” Congressman Mike Honda, who attended today’s demonstration event, said.
