Carbon Measurement and the role of NMO
Robert Gunn is Director, Programmes and Estate, at the National Measurement Office (NMO). In the latest edition of Insights - Beyond Measurement he explains how the NMO is supporting carbon reduction through climate measurement, and how business can help.
Robert highlights the top three carbon measurement priorities as:
- Work on Earth Observation, particularly the TRUTHS (Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- Studies) mission, which is designed to calibrate Earth Observation satellites in space.
- Preparation of gas standards with increasingly low measurement uncertainties in order to monitor the low levels and small changes in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
- Projects to improve availability and reduce costs of alternatives to carbon fuels, e.g. the development of fuel cells and metrology for wind turbines.
On the role of measurement, Robert says:
"There are clearly strong drivers for companies to develop commercially efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional energy conversion technologies, such as fuel cells and wind turbines. But, in order to judge the claims being made for the efficiency and benefits which these can achieve, there is a need for independent and accurate verification techniques and standards. This is where the NMS [National Measurement System] has a role to play."
Read the full article in Insights - Beyond Measurement, NPL's magazine exploring how the science and technology community in the UK can come together to deliver world class science that can change the way we live our lives and do business.
Find out more about the Centre for Carbon Measurement at NPL.
For further details, please contact Jane Burston