S&P Global’s Latest US LNG Impact Study Leverages GHGSAT Data for International Oil & Gas Benchmarking

S&P Global has released the second phase of its comprehensive study, « Major New US Industry at a Crossroads: A US LNG Impact Study, » highlighting the environmental and economic implications of the expansion of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity.

High-resolution satellite methane measurements from GHGSat’s pioneering constellation ensured a robust and comprehensive analysis of the emissions landscape associated with U.S. LNG activities, enabling benchmarking of the U.S. LNG sector to other sources, including countries with opaque methane reporting practices, such as Russia.

The study projects that expanding U.S. LNG exports by 40 million tons per annum (Mtpa) from 2028 to 2040 could lower global GHG emissions by 324 million to 780 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e), depending on the global warming potential (GWP) timeframe considered, compared to what would be the case if demand were met by the likely alternative sources. This reduction translates to approximately 65 million tons annually, equating to more than twice the annual emissions from all gasoline-powered cars in Los Angeles County.

The Phase 1 analysis indicated that U.S. LNG export growth could support nearly 500,000 domestic jobs annually and contribute $1.3 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) through 2040. Notably, 37% of these jobs and 30% of the GDP contributions are expected in non-producing areas, underscoring widespread economic advantages.

The integration of GHGSat’s precise emissions data into S&P Global’s study underscores the critical role of asset-level emissions insights in shaping informed investment strategies. Armed with granular, bankable data, the financial community can benchmark industries and companies, manage risks associated with regulatory compliance, and validate company or sector performance to maximize potential return on investment. This clarity also aligns investment portfolios with sustainability goals, mitigating long-term financial risks linked to climate change.

Today, GHGSat’s constellation of satellites traces greenhouse gas emissions directly to industrial facilities at an unmatched cadence. In 2023 alone, GHGSat’s satellite constellation made more than three million observations across 85 countries, identifying nearly 16,000 emissions over the super-emitter threshold of 100 kilograms of methane per hour. In 2024, GHGSat identified more than 20,000 plumes at this threshold, enabling unprecedented understanding of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.