GHGSat methane-monitoring constellation
Small satellites with spectrometers tuned to methane that can pin a leak to a single well pad, pipeline or landfill, several times a day across the fleet.
Why it matters
Methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide over its first decades, and many big leaks come from a few sites. Finding them from orbit lets operators fix leaks and lets regulators check reported emissions.
How the technology works
Each satellite measures how sunlight reflected off the ground is absorbed by methane in narrow infrared bands, then maps the plume over a small area. GHGSat launched its first methane satellite in 2016; its newest are Eleanor (C-18) and Aidan (C-19).
In 2025 the fleet observed more than 4 million facilities.
Sources
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