Technology

Precision built into every layer

Emission Sensing Technology

GHGSat technology is built on a single conviction that methane emissions can be traced to individual industrial facilities from orbit with accuracy to be operationally actionable. The patented sensor at the heart of every GHGSat satellite—a wide-angle Fabry-Pérot imaging spectrometer operating in the short-wave infrared—was developed from first principles specifically for this problem.

Today that technology operates across two measurement layers—satellite and aircraft—unified through the SPECTRA data platform. Together, they give operators, governments, and financial institutions the most complete picture of facility-level methane emissions commercially available.

High-Resolution Imaging from Space

GHGSat Technology

<1%

Developed this capability with
<1% of the investment of other systems

~25 m

Ground sampling distance

500 km

Above earth

Patented Imaging Interferometer

How GHGSat Technology Detects Methane From Space

Methane absorbs solar radiation at specific wavelengths in the short-wave infrared region (1,630–1,675 nm). GHGSat’s patented wide-angle Fabry-Pérot (WAF-P) imaging spectrometer is designed to measure that absorption precisely from a satellite in low Earth orbit at approximately 500 km altitude.

As the satellite passes over a target site, its spectrometer collects solar backscattered radiation within a 12 × 12 km, capturing approximately 200 overlapping images. The WAF-P instrument generates a spectral interference pattern that corresponds to a specific wavelength, enabling precise measurement of methane column densities across hundreds of thousands of pixels.

Methane concentration data is combined with wind field information through atmospheric inversion algorithms to produce quantified emission rate estimates in kg/hr, which are traceable to specific equipment or zones within a facility.

Processed observations are delivered through GHGSat’s SPECTRA platform, giving operators same-day visibility into emissions events, with full API access for integration into existing workflows.

We are the only organization today with this capability.

Whitepaper

How does GHGSat compare to other systems?

Not all detection thresholds are created equal. This white paper defines what rigorous performance validation looks like for satellite methane monitoring and documents the independent testing behind GHGSat’s 100 kg/hr claim.

Download The Paper

Methane Emission Sensor

Science of Spectroscopy

The underlying science for the way our satellites detect methane emissions has been proven by national space agencies. Spectroscopy is the study of the absorption and emission of light, from visible light across the bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Our instrument, an interferometer, uses sensors based on this science to identify the unique wavelengths of the different greenhouse gases. We are the first company to invent a new type of sensor that can detect methane (CH₄) emissions and make these measurements from a small satellite.

Measure Methane Wavelengths

What is an interferometer?

The interferometer was invented in the late 19th century by the scientist Albert Michelson, an American physicist who designed the instrument to demonstrate how the properties of light could be used to take extremely small and precise measurements. Interferometers work by merging two or more sources of light to create an interference pattern, which can then be measured. We improved, miniaturized, and patented our interferometer based on the Fabry-Perot design of 1899 and put it on a small satellite to measure the wavelengths of methane (CH₄).

Explore GHGSat

Satellite constellation

The engineering decisions, orbital mechanics, and ground segment operations behind the world’s largest dedicated methane monitoring fleet.

Methane Solutions

How GHGSat technology is applied across oil & gas, coal, waste management, government, and financial sectors with sector-specific data use cases.

Our Team

The satellite engineers, atmospheric physicists, and data scientists who built this technology from first principles and what they’re building next.

Request a demo

See the SPECTRA platform with real emissions data from your sector. Our team will walk you through what the technology can do for your specific sites.

Get in touch

Connect With Our Team to Know More

Our team will walk you through what facility-level methane detection looks like for your sector, your sites, and your regulatory requirements.

Get In Touch

FAQ

Frequently Asked About Our Technology

What type of sensor does GHGSat use?

GHGSat’s satellites use a wide-angle fixed-cavity Fabry-Pérot (WAF-P) imaging spectrometer operating in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region between 1,630–1,675 nm. This patented instrument resolves methane absorption lines at high spatial (~25 m) and spectral (~0.3 nm) resolutions from approximately 500 km altitude in low Earth orbit.

What is GHGSat's methane detection threshold?

GHGSat’s satellite constellation (DATA.SAT) detects methane emissions as low as 100 kg/hr at the facility level—the lowest commercially available detection threshold. The aircraft product (DATA.AIR) extends this to 3.5 kg/hr under favourable wind conditions, validated through controlled release testing.

How quickly is data delivered after a satellite observation?

DATA.SAT observations are delivered within 24 hours of satellite overpass through the SPECTRA platform. DATA.AIR aircraft data is delivered within 48 hours of flight completion, with full API access for integration into operator workflows.

Has GHGSat's technology been independently validated?

GHGSat’s satellite performance was assessed in a single-blind controlled release study published in Scientific Reports (Nature, March 2023) by Stanford University researchers. GHGSat’s targeted system quantified a 0.20 t/hr emission to within 13% of the metered value—the strongest precision result among the five satellite teams tested.

DATA.AIR was separately validated through controlled release testing in Alberta (2024) and at Colorado State University’s METEC facility in Fort Collins (2025), confirming 90% probability of detection at 3.6 kg/hr under 3 m/s wind conditions.

The underlying spectroscopy has been validated by ESA and NASA, and GHGSat’s data is recognized under NASA’s CSDA program.

For GHGSat’s full performance methodology, download the white paper: Validation and Metrics for Emissions Detection by Satellite

What is the SPECTRA platform?

SPECTRA is GHGSat’s proprietary data delivery and visualization platform. It integrates DATA.SAT, DATA.AIR, and DATA.GS observations in a single interface built on a high-resolution Esri satellite background, with full API access, historical data from 2016, and support for facility-level visualization and reporting.

Can GHGSat technology be used for regulatory reporting?

Yes. GHGSat’s data is used by industrial operators and governments for OGMP 2.0 reporting, MiQ certification, national emissions inventories, and regulatory compliance programs across the EU, UK, US, and Canada. The data has been rigorously validated by atmospheric scientists to meet the evidence standards required for these use cases.