The accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere leads to the heating of the Earth’s surface which in turn, impacts the seasons, sea-levels and gives rise to a variety of significant climatic shifts. The measuring of greenhouse gas emissions allows businesses, corporations, industries, governments and sectors to determine greenhouse gas reduction opportunities.
GHGSat is committed to global monitoring of industrial emissions and has introduced a methane emissions calculator, designed to make it easier to fully understand methane emission rates and calibrate emission measurements for mitigation and reduction purposes.
Why is methane a major Greenhouse Gas?
Greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, work similarly to the glass of a greenhouse. They absorb the heat from the sun, trap it in the atmosphere and prevent it from escaping into space. This is known as the greenhouse effect. This is an occurrence that happens naturally and keeps the earth’s temperature warmer than it would be, supporting life on earth. However, with the rise of human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere at an alarming rate. This increase in greenhouse gas is resulting in global warming and climate change which is having widespread effects on the environment and impacting life as we know it.
Methane (CH4) is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas, after carbon dioxide (CO2) and accounts for 20% of emissions worldwide. 50-60% of the total global methane emissions come from human activity, notably in the energy industry, land use and waste management sectors [ref]. Methane accounted for around 11% of US greenhouse gas emissions from human activities and the human activities that are emitting methane include leaks from natural gas systems [ref].
Identifying, measuring and quantifying methane emissions helps businesses in these industries to identify excessive energy use or related inefficiencies. Across industries, consumers and investors are also demanding more sustainable services and products from environmentally conscious businesses and this is why it is vital businesses invest in methane gas emission monitoring and measuring technologies.
The GHGSat Methane Emissions Calculator
GHGSat pioneered the satellite monitoring of greenhouse gases in the oil and gas industry in high-resolution. Using their patented sensor technology, their satellites are capable of attributing emissions directly to individual facilities. No other commercial organization or national space agency has yet matched the capabilities of our satellites. GHGSat also offers a powerful methane emissions calculator. The presence of methane leaks indicates that operators are losing their natural gas product, as natural gas is primarily composed of methane. Our calculator is valuable as it enables operators to determine the monetary value of the methane lost in production and transport activities.
GHGSat’s advanced methane calculator offers two primary functions:
1. Determining product loss of a methane leak
The GHGSat methane calculator is able to calculate the price of natural gas and is updated every month. This allows users to calculate how much a methane leak would cost if it was unattended at a specific volume and mass, and duration of time. The value of the lost product is the total cost.
2. Converting emissions units
Once the value of the product loss has been calculated, the calculator is able to convert the results into another unit of measurement. The GHGSat calculator leads to greater communication regarding methane reduction rates for organizations.
About GHGSat
By measuring methane emissions with GHGSat, businesses are able to manage their emissions and successfully implement mitigation and reduction initiatives – doing their part in the fight against climate change. The tracking and reporting of methane emissions also helps increase transparency to investors, shareholders and clients while increasing production efficiency and lowering unnecessary energy costs.
Discover the power of satellite technology to accurately track your emissions from anywhere in the world, with GHGSat.
