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  • tech360.tv
    • Mar 5
    • 2 min read

Groundbreaking MethaneSAT: Tracking Oil & Gas Emissions from Space

The MethaneSAT satellite, backed by Google and the EDF, will launch from California to track methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. MethaneSAT will provide more detailed and comprehensive data compared to existing satellite trackers. The collected data will hold oil and gas companies accountable for their commitments to reduce methane emissions and comply with upcoming regulations.

A groundbreaking satellite, supported by Alphabet Inc's Google and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), is set to launch from California on Monday. The mission of the MethaneSAT satellite is to accurately locate and monitor methane emissions from the oil and gas industry, using data collected from space.


The MethaneSAT satellite will join a growing fleet of spacecraft already in orbit, all aimed at combating climate change by providing crucial information on greenhouse gas emissions. While the European Space Agency and GHGSat have been providing methane emissions data, MethaneSAT is expected to offer more detailed and comprehensive insights, thanks to its wider field of view.


The EDF believes that this data will hold over 50 oil and gas companies accountable for their commitments made at the Dubai COP28 climate summit. These companies pledged to eliminate methane emissions and reduce routine gas flaring. The information collected by MethaneSAT will also assist companies in complying with upcoming methane regulations in the European Union and the United States, including potential methane pollution fees.


Mark Brownstein, Senior Vice President for Energy Transition at EDF, expressed optimism about the impact of this satellite data. He stated, "We'll be able to see who the laggards are, but hopefully they will use that information in a constructive way to improve their performance."


MethaneSAT is a collaborative effort between the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University, and other partners. The collected data will be made available to the public later this year, providing valuable insights into methane emissions. Google Cloud will play a crucial role in processing the vast amount of information gathered by the satellite.


Methane emissions, originating from oil and natural gas production, agricultural waste, and landfills, are significantly more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. The American Petroleum Institute (API), a prominent oil industry group, emphasized the importance of data verification before using third-party emissions data for regulatory purposes. Aaron Padilla, API Vice President of Corporate Policy, stated, "The environmental regulator is still going to be paramount here as the authority in terms of validating the data."

 

  • The MethaneSAT satellite, backed by Google and the EDF, will launch from California to track methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

  • MethaneSAT will provide more detailed and comprehensive data compared to existing satellite trackers.

  • The collected data will hold oil and gas companies accountable for their commitments to reduce methane emissions and comply with upcoming regulations.


Source: REUTERS

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