METHANESAT
A BETTER AND
FASTER WAY TO
TRACK METHANE
MethaneSAT will be the most advanced methane-tracking satellite in space, measuring methane emissions virtually anywhere on Earth. Cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas is the single fastest, most impactful thing we can do to slow the rate of warming today, even as we work to decarbonize the energy system.
Our mission is to catalyze faster, more effective reductions and document the results. MethaneSAT is expected to be ready for launch in late 2023, with data flowing in early 2024.
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Rendering. Not based on actual measurements
METHANESAT
A BETTER AND
FASTER WAY TO
TRACK METHANE
Rendering. Not based on actual measurements
MethaneSAT will be the most advanced methane-tracking satellite in space, measuring methane emissions virtually anywhere on Earth. Cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas is the single fastest, most impactful thing we can do to slow the rate of warming today, even as we work to decarbonize the energy system.
Our mission is to catalyze faster, more effective reductions and document the results. MethaneSAT is expected to be ready for launch in late 2023, with data flowing in early 2024.
METHANE EMISSIONS
ARE FAR WORSE
THAN WE THINK
An unprecedented research effort involving hundreds of scientists and industry experts revealed that methane emissions across the U.S. oil and gas supply chain were far greater than government estimates suggested. The industry faces similar concerns worldwide.
MethaneSAT will locate and quantify methane emissions from oil and gas operations almost anywhere on Earth and track progress over time. The data will enable both companies and countries to identify, manage and reduce their emissions, and allow investors, gas buyers and the public to see and compare results.
Our estimate
13 Mmt per year
EPA estimate
8.1 Mmt per year
FOSSIL FUELS ARE
A MAIN SOURCE
OF METHANE
The oil and gas industry emits 80 million tonnes of methane every year.
It is the second largest source of human-caused methane emissions after agriculture.
Methane emitted
from all human activity
38% are emitted
from oil and gas industry activities
75% reduction possible
with today's technologies
TODAY'S TOOLS
COULD ELIMINATE
MOST EMISSIONS
Our data will help prioritize areas where we can reduce the most emissions, using efficient and cost-effective solutions.
MethaneSAT will make it faster and cheaper than ever to locate, measure and reduce oil and gas methane emissions almost anywhere on earth.
THE FASTEST WAY TO
CURB CLIMATE CHANGE
MethaneSAT will offer greater sensitivity than any other satellite, enabling high-precision tracking of emissions that others can’t see.
It will fill a crucial gap among existing and planned detection technologies, offering precise measurements on a global scale.
METHANESAT WILL
REVEAL EMISSIONS
ACROSS THE GLOBE
MethaneSAT will provide regular monitoring of regions accounting for at least 80% of global oil and gas production, measuring emissions over large areas and from specific sites. It will see concentration differences as small as three parts per billion and will quantify not only how much is escaping, but also how fast.
MethaneSAT will also be able to measure methane from agriculture and other sources.
80%
monitored by MethaneSAT
All regions
of global oil and gas production
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
FROM WEEKS
TO DAYS
MethaneSAT analytics will transform a process that currently takes scientists weeks and up to months, delivering actionable data in just days through a new cloud-based data platform.
ACTING NOW
IS ESSENTIAL
As we hit a record high in methane emissions, every continent is feeling the impact of climate change, intensifying floods, droughts and calls for urgent action.
At our current speed
+0.54°C warming
If we slow down emissions
+0.27°C warming
2020
2030
2040
2050
WE COULD SLOW
RATE OF WARMING
BY 30%
Now — right now — is the methane moment.
Cutting these emissions is the fastest most cost-effective way to slow the rate of warming right now, even as the clean energy transition continues. The International Energy Agency says methane emissions from oil and gas operations could be eliminated for almost no cost.