GHGSat’s emissions data enables greenhouse gas intensive industries to successfully reach their emission reduction targets. With high-resolution methane monitoring satellites, and emission analytics, we provide valuable metrics and actionable insights that are vital for helping clients make informed decisions related to their environmental, production and financial decision-making.
What are greenhouse gases
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases.
Below, we take a look at these gases and their impact on the environment:
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Carbon dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide is released by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, as well as from deforestation and other land use changes. Carbon dioxide accounts for approximately 75% of total greenhouse gas emissions and has a warming potential that persists in the atmosphere for hundreds of years [ref].
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Methane (CH4): Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with a warming potential that is 80 times greater than CO2 over a 20-year period. Methane is emitted from a variety of human sources, including agriculture, fossil fuel production and use, waste management, and natural gas distribution [ref].
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Nitrous oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas with a warming potential that is 298 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year time frame. It is released from agricultural and industrial activities, such as fertilizer use and combustion of fossil fuels. [ref].
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Fluorinated gases: Fluorinated gases, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), are synthetic gases used in various industrial applications, including refrigeration, air conditioning, and electronics. These gases have extremely high warming potentials, with some being tens of thousands of times more potent than CO2 [ref].
Although all greenhouse gases have a significant impact on the environment, it is important for businesses, industry and governments to monitor methane emissions closely. This major greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere through a variety of natural and human activities, including agriculture, coal mining, fossil fuel production and waste management.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), methane emissions accounted for approximately 16% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. And as stated previously, the impact of methane emissions on climate change is significant because it has a higher warming potential than carbon dioxide.
With this in mind, monitoring methane is vital. By monitoring this greenhouse gas (GHG), businesses and governments are able to identify and measure specific sources of methane emissions, enabling them to better understand and manage the impact of human activities on the environment. This kind of GHG monitoring can also be used to identify and mitigate safety risks. Methane is flammable and can pose a risk of explosion in confined spaces, such as mines or underground pipelines. Unregulated dumpsites near communities can have fires that are fueled by methane leaks. Continuous monitoring of methane levels can help to detect potentially dangerous situations and prevent accidents.
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Methane Emission Sources
Coal mining operations release methane from coal seams during the mining process, and can also be released from abandoned coal mines [ref]. The oil and gas industry also produces methane during the extraction, processing, and transportation of fossil fuels, in fact, these operations generate over one-third of all methane emissions from human activity [ref]. Methane emissions from waste management are primarily generated from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills and wastewater treatment plants while municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States [ref].
Monitoring methane emissions from these industries is critical to mitigate the impact of climate change. By identifying and measuring sources of methane emissions, industries are able to implement strategies to meet emissions reduction targets, regulatory requirements, and reduce their environmental impact.
It is important to note that monitoring methane emissions is not only beneficial for the environment but also for businesses. Reducing methane emissions can result in cost savings, increased efficiency, and help industries adapt to changing regulations and market demands for more sustainable practices.
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GHGSat and Methane Emission Monitoring
GHGSat’s overall mission is to provide actionable methane emissions data to methane-intensive industries, operators, governments and stakeholders interested in understanding, mitigating and reducing facility-level emissions of methane.
The products and services we offer include:
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DATA.SAT: With GHGSat’s constellation of high-resolution satellites, we are able to identify sources of methane emissions from space, down to the individual facility level. This technology provides accurate detection, measurements, consistent and reliable emissions data, and year-round monitoring of methane emissions.
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DATA.AIR: GHGSat’s proprietary satellite technology has been adapted to aircraft. Airborne monitoring is a cost-effective and safe alternative to frequent ground-based monitoring operations.
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Global Survey: Leverage third-party and public satellite data near industrial sites. Be the first to know if industial facilities are emitting methane detectable by public satellites with GHGSat’s Global Survey service.
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SPECTRA: Measuring and managing methane emissions requires a fully integrated view of your data. SPECTRA centralizes all of our products, data and services into a clean and intuitive interface to allow for easy emissions management.
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Contact GHGSat Today
Our emission intelligence products and services are designed to empower industries and governments to achieve their emission reduction goals.
Interested in improving your environmental performance for your business?
Contact GHGSat today to get started.
