A new satellite mission is poised to launch, aiming to track methane emissions, a potent planet-warming gas, with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology. The MethaneSAT satellite, initially proposed by the Environmental Defense Fund six years ago, is set to create a global map of oil and gas infrastructure to monitor potential leaks of methane gas.
Scheduled for launch in March aboard a SpaceX rocket, MethaneSAT will leverage AI computing capabilities provided by Google to analyze the vast amounts of data collected by the satellite. Methane, an invisible gas, is a significant contributor to global warming, accounting for nearly a third of the temperature increase induced by emissions since the industrial revolution.
By detecting methane emissions from oil and gas facilities, MethaneSAT aims to address the urgent need to reduce these emissions, as methane is over 80 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period. The International Energy Agency reported that the global energy industry was accountable for 135 million tonnes of methane emissions in 2022, with a concerning number of “super-emitting” events detected at oil and gas sites.
Google’s Vice President of Geo Sustainability, Yael Maguire, expressed optimism about the project, emphasizing its potential to support various stakeholders in building a cleaner future. The $88 million MethaneSAT project is designed to provide enhanced capabilities in measuring methane emissions, identifying sources, and facilitating regulatory actions against leaky infrastructure.
Unlike existing satellites, MethaneSAT offers a unique combination of wide spatial coverage and high sensitivity to emissions, enabling it to detect emissions as low as 500kg per hour from small areas while scanning a wide field of view simultaneously. The project, which faced delays due to the pandemic and supply chain challenges, aims to provide valuable insights into methane emissions on a global scale by the end of 2025.
The collaboration between EDF and Google is expected to yield the first comprehensive map illustrating the impact of various machinery on methane leaks over time. As awareness grows regarding methane’s role in global warming, efforts to reduce emissions have intensified, with countries and companies committing to significant emission reductions and stricter regulations.
Overall, MethaneSAT represents a significant advancement in methane detection technology, filling crucial gaps in the current detection system and supporting global efforts to combat climate change effectively.
