Challenge
Methane is a potent, but odourless and colourless greenhouse gas, a combination that makes detecting leaks both very important and very hard. Over a 20 year period, it has over 80 times more global warming potential than carbon dioxide, yet humans are releasing hundreds of millions of tonnes of it every year.
Solution
In the last few years, methane detection technology has advanced significantly, making it easier to identify sources of leaks and reduce emissions. Satellites launched by GHGSat and currently orbiting the earth are able to monitor emissions at facility level, giving companies close to real time data about their global operations.
Result
In February 2021, a new high-resolution GHGSat satellite captured images of a 52 square kilometre area of central Turkmenistan where eight leaks were emitting around 10 tonnes of methane an hour – an hourly warming equivalent of driving 250,000 cars. Analysis of the image revealed that half of the emissions from the gas field were likely to be coming from leaky valves on natural gas pipelines, and the other half from flares.
When GHGSat found and reported a similar Central Asian leak in 2019, the resulting fix was equivalent to taking one million cars off the road a year.
Expanding impact
GHGSat launched its first high-resolution commercial satellite in September 2020, and its second less than 5 months later. Both satellites are equipped with a state-of-the-art sensor that detects methane emissions from sources 100 times smaller than some satellites, and can attribute emissions sources with 100 times higher precision than other commercial or state-funded satellites.
Through 2022 the company is planning to add a further nine satellites to its constellation.
Climate Investments case studies
Learn how our investments are helping to reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions and can recycle or store carbon dioxide.
GHGSat – Global methane detection at facility level
Methane is a potent, but odourless and colourless greenhouse gas, a combination that makes detecting leaks both very important and very hard.
XL: 23% improvement in fuel economy for Yale
Hybrid technology to reduce the carbon footprint of traditional buses without compromising vehicle performance
Solidia: Carbon eating concrete that lowers emissions from the production phase
By changing the chemistry of cement, Solidia has made concrete that outperforms traditional concrete, costs less, cures faster and has a 70% lower carbon footprint
SeekOps – Drone-based monitoring of methane emissions
Scalable methane detection techniques for on and offshore environments, that have shown results over five times more efficient than existing methods
bp – Mapping and capping methane emissions with Kairos Aerospace
Kairos Aerospace provides actionable data on major sources of methane emissions from aerial surveys.
Eni – Tackling fugitive emissions with Clarke Valve
Clarke Valve has developed a unique control valve that is low-cost and virtually eliminates fugitive methane emissions.
75F – Over 20% energy efficiency gains in a HOM showroom
Air temperature controls and smart sensors that self-optimize to make buildings more energy efficient, saving money and lowering emissions
Norsepower – Harnessing wind power to clean up modern shipping
Large mechanical sails installed on the Maersk Pelican tanker record annual saving equivalent to approximately 1,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The evolution of Net Zero Teesside
Getting a CCUS hub off the ground requires a commercial concept, funding, policies and regulations, community support, subsurface expertise and lots of patient work.
