How the UK Space Agency Gave Access to Satellite Methane Data and What They Did With It

Most government agencies build national emissions inventories from models, estimates, and industry-reported figures. That approach has limits. It cannot tell you what is happening at a specific facility today. It cannot flag a site that is emitting above the threshold. It cannot hold up to independent scrutiny when the numbers are questioned in a parliamentary committee.

The UK Space Agency understood this gap. The Methane Monitoring Data Supply programme, delivered by the Satellite Applications Catapult in partnership with GHGSat, gave public agencies, industrial operators, and research institutions direct access to high-resolution satellite methane data paired with the training to use it.

Over two years, 120 organizations across the United Kingdom used that data to monitor sites, inform policy, and act on what they found.

“The UK has a proud track record of leadership in Earth Observation data analytics, transforming satellite insights into actionable solutions for global challenges. Partnerships such as this showcased how UK expertise drives innovation and delivers tangible benefits.”

— Beth Greenaway, Head of Earth Observation & Climate, UK Space Agency

What you’ll learn

• How the programme gave government agencies the ability to task satellites directly over sites of interest and access historical data going back to 2016
• What satellite methane data revealed that models and ground-based measurements had not captured
• How the Environment Agency embedded satellite alerts into operational workflows and used the data across agriculture, waste, and oil and gas sectors
• Why programme outputs were cited in House of Lords and Climate Change Committee reports
• How a two-year public-private partnership laid the foundation for a national methane monitoring ecosystem in the UK.

If you work in government and want to understand how satellite methane data can strengthen your national inventory, regulatory enforcement, or emissions reduction strategy, this case study is a direct reference point.

Download the Case Study