Latest news with #MethaneSAT
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Science
- RNZ News
Taxpayer-funded climate satellite MethaneSAT finally reveals what's behind delays
RNZ has been asking about problems with MethaneSAT since September. Photo: Ball Aerospace The group behind a taxpayer-funded methane satellite has finally revealed what is behind delays to a crucial milestone. MethaneSAT got $29 million from the government, with the aim of growing the space industry. RNZ has been asking about problems with the satellite since September. The mission's chief scientist has now said more intense solar activity because of a peak in the sun's magnetic cycle has been causing MethaneSAT to go into safe mode. The satellite has to be carefully restarted every time. There has also been a problem with one of the satellite's three thrusters, which maintain its altitude and steer the spacecraft. MethaneSAT says it can operate fully on two thrusters. The new information helps explain why control of the satellite had to be temporarily handed back to its manufacturers in Colorado instead of going straight from Rocket Lab to the University of Auckland as planned. Rocket Lab ran the mission control since launch in March 2024. The university said it would still operate the mission control from a delayed start date of June, and staff had been involved in day-to-day tasks ahead of the full handover. The ability to learn from operating the satellite was a major rationale for the government's investment, after early hopes that it would reveal new information about New Zealand's methane emissions proved incorrect . The mission's goal is to name and shame oil and gas producers that are allowing planet-heating methane to escape into the atmosphere, making global heating worse. In a LinkedIn post, the group's chief scientist says "MethaneSAT is ushering in a new era of transparency and problem-solving." The MethaneSAT device delivered by a SpaceX rocket on March 5, 2024 Photo: ©2024 Ball Aerospace But a top New Zealand astronomer says MethaneSAT itself hasn't been transparent enough. The non-profit satellite mission told RNZ in October that the spacecraft was performing as expected and there were no "notable or particular complications outside the realm of what would be anticipated". Just a few months later, after more questions from RNZ, MethaneSAT announced that control of satellite had been transferred back to its maker Blue Canyon Technologies so it could fix "challenges." "Their goal is to serve as a conscience to the oil and gas industry and their effectiveness at doing that depends very much on their reputation for integrity and transparency," said Auckland University astrophysicist Richard Easther, who isn't involved in the project. "Our own motivation as a country for getting involved with this was partly that it would be useful for what we call outreach, that it would raise the profile of space technology in New Zealand, and that's undercut if we can't be sure that they'll share bad news as well as good news." He said MethaneSAT appeared to be potentially better at giving TED talks than building spacecraft or sharing bad news. RNZ asked MethaneSAT if its response in October had been true. MethaneSAT said the issues were "teething problems" and nothing beyond what was expected. "MethaneSAT experienced the sort of teething problems that one would encounter with any new mission using a new platform (bus), but nothing outside the bounds of what was to be expected. The expectation was that developing an efficient, well-honed set of operating procedures takes time," it said. MethaneSAT had acknowledged in October that the process was taking longer than expected , particularly commissioning the thrusters. However it did not disclose the issue with the satellite having to be brought out of safe mode until RNZ asked a list of specific questions this month. It said the sun was at the peak of an eleven-year cycle of magnetic activity, which can disrupt satellite operations. It explained that the solar activity is sending MethaneSAT into standby mode as a method of self-protection - and it has to be carefully reawakened each time. MethaneSAT said it was learning how to do this more quickly. In March, Space Minister Judith Collins was asked about the mission's problems - but told Parliament she couldn't say because of confidentiality. In February, the government's Space Agency also cited the need for confidentiality when it declined to answer questions about what was wrong. Questions about delays directed to the Space Agency, the university and NIWA (which is helping train the satellite to measure farming emissions) have always been referred to MethaneSAT. Auckland University astrophysicist Richard Easther. Photo: University of Auckland Easther questioned the level of secrecy given the project is partly New Zealand government-funded. "It doesn't stack up as a reason for telling us there weren't problems when there were problems," he said. "And I think the bigger part of the issue is, why did you sign an agreement which meant you couldn't be transparent with the people who were funding you, which in this case is the New Zealand taxpayer. "It's good to see the update, and it's great to see that they think they understand the problems with the spacecraft and can work around them but it also does seem like a tacit admission that their October statement was inaccurate." The satellite's major funders are private donors including Jeff Bezos' Earth Fund. Its wide sweep and detailed pictures are designed to reveal where fugitive gases are coming from, over big areas of the globe. It is one of a few methane-hunting satellites in orbit, and promises to help global efforts to slash methane by 30 per cent - efforts the New Zealand government signed up to assist. When it launched, the mission's goal was to collect and download images from 30 segments of the planet a day, each 200km by 200km, covering 80 percent of the world's oil and gas production each year. However, the full flow of data has been slower than hoped. MethaneSAT said this week the satellite was returning "amazing" data from its state-of-the-art spectrometers. It said the flow of images available to researchers on the ground should get faster as the mission moves to greater automation of its data processing. "You can expect to see much more information flowing moving forward," it said. "The two powerful imaging spectrometers at the heart of our system are working extremely well, measuring differences in methane concentrations as small as two parts per billion," it said. The data will be freely available to researchers and the public. MethaneSAT posted details about its challenges on LinkedIn on 16 May, four days after RNZ sent a list of detailed questions. MethaneSAT's LinkedIn post goes into more detail about the specific issues with the thruster and solar activity. "MethaneSAT's 'bus' - the platform which carries the spectrometers, providing power, communications and maneuvering - is designed to enter standby mode under certain conditions in order to protect itself from damage. These include instances of increased solar activity," it said. "As it happens, our sun is at the peak of an eleven-year cycle of magnetic activity, which can significantly disrupt radio and other electronic activities. Much like weather can affect aircraft flight patterns, solar flares and other 'space weather' can disrupt satellite operations," it said. "Restarting from standby mode takes time to ensure the spacecraft is healthy. We are using lessons learned to reduce the re-start time required, reduce downtime and return data collection faster. "We encountered issues with one of three thrusters used to maintain our operating altitude and steer clear of hazards - critical in a crowded orbital environment home to more than 10,000 active satellites and countless bits of debris. Fortunately, there is redundancy built into MethaneSAT's propulsion system, and we remain fully operational with two thrusters," it said. In answers emailed to RNZ three days after the post, MethaneSAT also confirmed that Blue Canyon had deployed a software "patch" sometime after October to address the safe mode issue, which "eliminated the specific events ... that at the time were of concern." However it did not say the need for re-starting was fixed. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Methane emissions remain high, 120 million tonnes released in 2024
The IEA's data, drawn from satellite observations, measurement campaigns and scientific studies, indicates that global energy-related methane emissions are approximately 80% higher than those reported to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The gap is the smallest in Europe, where measurement-based reporting is more prevalent. In 2024, oil operations emitted about 45 Mt, natural gas 35 Mt, and coal 40 Mt, with abandoned wells and mines adding 8 Mt—a new metric in this year's tracker. These abandoned facilities alone would rank as the world's fourth-largest fossil fuel methane emitter. Satellites are revolutionising methane monitoring, with over 25 now in orbit, including MethaneSAT and Tanager-1, launched in 2024. These tools detected a record high in large methane leaks from oil and gas facilities last year, despite reduced coverage. GHGSat's 16,400 observations in 2024 identified nearly 11,700 leaks, 9,600 from oil and gas. 'Satellites are game-changers, exposing persistent leaks and guiding regulatory action,' said Jane Ellis, a senior IEA analyst. The economic case for methane abatement is compelling. About 30% of 2024's fossil fuel methane emissions could have been avoided at no net cost, as captured gas often offsets abatement costs. Leak detection and repair (LDAR) programmes and equipment upgrades, like swapping wet compressor seals for dry ones, can yield returns exceeding 25% within a year. In India, where oil and gas upstream methane intensities are double the global average, such measures could be transformative. 'The financial logic is clear, yet awareness and investment barriers persist,' analysts say. Methane abatement could also strengthen energy security. The IEA estimates that capturing methane could have added 100 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas to global markets in 2024—matching Norway's total gas exports. Additionally, 150 bcm of gas is flared annually, much of it unnecessarily. 'This is gas that could power industries or heat homes,' Birol said. In India, where energy demand is rising, capturing flared gas could support economic growth while reducing emissions. India, a major methane emitter in South and Southeast Asia, contributed significantly to the region's 10 Mt of fossil fuel methane emissions in 2024, with half from coal mines. The country plans to double coal output by 2030, potentially exacerbating emissions. Unlike most regional peers, India has not joined the Global Methane Pledge, though its national oil company, ONGC, participates in the Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC). 'India's coal reliance poses a challenge, but its oil and gas sector has abatement potential,' Indian experts say. Surface mines, dominant in India, limit coal abatement options, but LDAR and gas utilisation could cut oil and gas emissions significantly. Sabina Assan, methane analyst at global energy think tank Ember, said 'Coal, one of the biggest methane culprits, is still being ignored. There are cost-effective technologies available today, so this is a low-hanging fruit of tackling methane. We can't let coal mines off the hook any longer.' Globally, methane pledges, including the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and OGDC, cover 80% of oil and gas production, but only 5% meets near-zero emissions standards. The GMP, with 159 countries, aims for a 30% methane cut by 2030—equivalent to eliminating the transport sector's CO2 emissions. Yet, only half of these pledges have detailed policies. Regionally, performance varies. China, the largest emitter at 25 Mt, focuses on coal mine methane recovery. North America emitted 23 Mt, with Canada targeting a 75% reduction by 2030. In the Middle East and North Africa, flaring drives 25% of 20 Mt emitted. The IEA's Methane Abatement Model highlights pathways to cut oil and gas emissions by 75% and coal by 50% by 2030. "The tools exist, the data is improving, and the economics make sense,' Birol urged.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This crime-fighting satellite can spot law-breakers from space — see how it's holding corporations accountable
A one-of-a-kind satellite is likely giving some of Earth's biggest polluters nightmares — and everyone on the planet stands to benefit from the innovative technology. The Environmental Defense Fund's Vital Signs newsletter spotlighted the development. An excellent resource for positive climate news stories and solutions, Vital Signs also empowers readers to work toward a better future by advising them on meaningful actions they can take. According to the report, MethaneSAT is the sole satellite that "can see the whole picture of methane pollution." Even though methane only accounts for around 11% of heat-trapping emissions, it has a much stronger warming effect on the planet than carbon dioxide. Vital Signs noted the potent gas is responsible for around 30% of planetary warming — which has led to more intense extreme weather, displacement, economic losses, and food shortages. Children, older adults, low-income communities, Indigenous groups, and people with disabilities are among those most significantly impacted by the effects of rising global temperatures, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Now, MethaneSAT is making it harder for companies to get away with their polluting ways. The eye in the sky, which launched in 2024, circles nearly 400 miles above the planet and completes a pole-to-pole loop about every 100 minutes, monitoring methane emissions in regions that produce 80% of our oil and gas. About the size of a washing machine outfitted with 13-foot wings, MethaneSAT gathers data at 25 target locations every day, and it revisits the sites to ensure its data is up to date. All of the satellite's data is available to the public at no cost, giving consumers who want to hold companies accountable a powerful resource at their fingertips to compare pollution output. The satellite monitoring has also sped up the process of slashing methane pollution; it's given governments and companies the data they need to ensure they are on track with their pollution-reduction goals while helping them identify which areas they need to prioritize. Should the government be allowed to restrict how much water we use? Definitely Only during major droughts No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Cutting these emissions is the fastest, most cost-effective way to slow the rate of warming right now, even as the clean energy transition continues," MethaneSAT explained. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Despite Industry Pledge to Rein in Methane, Emissions Still ‘Far Too High'
World Despite Industry Pledge to Rein in Methane, Emissions Still 'Far Too High' Methane Flaring Oil Gas. Flames from a flaring pit near a well in the Bakken Oil Field. Orjan F. Ellingvag/Corbis via Getty Images Emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane remain "far too high" according to a report released Wednesday by the International Energy Agency (IEA), even though technology exists to control many methane sources. The IEA Global Methane Tracker found that the record-high production of fossil fuels and "limited mitigation efforts" by industry resulted in 120 million tons of methane escaping from the energy sector each year. Methane is the main component of natural gas, and oil and gas extraction and coal mining contribute about one-third of the global methane emissions from human activity. Other major sources include agriculture, land use change and emissions from landfills. According to the report, existing technology could prevent roughly 70 percent of annual methane emissions from the energy sector by preventing leaks from drilling and transmission and reduce flaring, the intentional burning of excess gas. Many of those technologies would pay for themselves within a year, the IEA said, by capturing gas that can then be sold instead of going into the atmosphere. "Tackling methane leaks and flaring offers a double dividend: it alleviates pressure on tight gas markets in many parts of the world, enhancing energy security-and lowers emissions at the same time," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a statement. "However, the latest data indicates that implementation on methane has continued to fall short of ambitions." Methane does not persist as long as the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. But while it is in the atmosphere, methane is many times more potent as a heat-trapping gas, and scientists say it is contributing to much of the near-term warming the world is experiencing. The last two years have been the warmest in recorded history. Because of its potency as a greenhouse gas and the capability to control many sources of emissions, methane is often called the "low-hanging fruit" of climate action. Oil and gas companies in the U.S. and globally has made various voluntary commitments to cut methane emissions, including a high-profile agreement announced at the in United Nations COP28 climate talks in 2023. However, the IEA said the industry has not fulfilled those pledges, and as more accurate monitoring of methane by satellite has started, the gap between the actual emissions and the promised reductions has become clearer. There are now more than 25 satellites in orbit providing data on methane, the IAE said, and the detection of "very large leaks" of methane from from oil and gas facilities reached a record high in 2024. One of those satellites, MethaneSAT, was developed by the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, which also operates an airplane-based methane monitor to track emissions in the U.S. In a report last July, EDF said it had detected emissions of methane that were eight times higher than the targets the industry has agreed to meet. The Biden administration developed regulations that would have imposed fees on excessive emissions of methane from oil and gas operations. Analysis of that rule showed it could achieve a nearly 80 percent reduction in methane. However, in February, before the rule went into effect, the Republican-controlled Congress voted to repeal it. The IEA report also found that old, unused drilling wells and mines are major sources methane. Abandoned oil and gas wells and coal mines together contributed around 8 million tons of methane emissions last year, the report found. Together, those sources would be the world's fourth-largest methane source. Thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells dot petroleum-producing parts of the country such as the southwest and Appalachia, and those wells also frequently pollute air and water. Analysis conducted last year by the regional think tank Ohio River Valley Institute found that a program to cap abandoned wells in Appalachia could create good-paying jobs in economically distressed areas while reducing both local pollution and methane emissions. The IEA report also found that coal mines are the second-largest energy sector source of methane, just behind the oil industry. The global energy think tank Ember calculated that the methane emissions from coal mining are equivalent to the annual carbon dioxide emissions from India. "Most of the attention has been on the oil and gas sectors," Ember senior analyst Dody Setiawan told Newsweek via email. "Coal mine methane is sometimes seen as more challenging to address, but there are proven technologies that can avoid half of emissions." Coal and methane deposits often occur together, and mining liberates the gas. Deep mines are often required to vent the gas from mines to avoid the risk of explosion. As with the oil and gas industry, the IEA said that no technological breakthroughs are required to cut emissions from coal. "Burning or utilizing captured methane for electricity generation would be a positive first step," Setiawan said. "When mines are closed, they should be sealed or flooded to reduce ongoing emissions." Related Articles 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC. This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From grids to renewables: How AI is shaping clean energy future, ET EnergyWorld
Advt Advt By , ETEnergyWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETEnergyworld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App In the energy sector, artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a vital force that is transforming generation, distribution, and consumption in order to create a more intelligent, resilient, and sustainable future. Industry experts highlight AI's crucial role in optimising complex grids, predicting renewable energy output, enhancing operational efficiency, and promoting energy Mundol, Chief Advisor, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), India, emphasised on AI's potential beyond renewable energy integration.'AI can improve grid efficiency and reliability, and convert it into smart grids – to balance loads, reduce losses and optimise energy flow,' he also pointed to advanced computing capability that can help detect methane emissions from the recently launched MethaneSAT – to support the oil & gas sector to minimise methane emissions from gas production. 'This is still very much early days of AI at EDF and we will continue to explore this,' he added, hinting at further climate-tech are already seeing tangible benefits from deploying AI. Veena Khandke, Senior VP and MD, Ensono India, detailed the company's internal adoption of AI for sustainability. 'We are pioneering AI-driven solutions that embed energy efficiency and sustainability into every facet of our operations,' Khandke leveraging AI for smart resource allocation and predictive maintenance, Khandke says there is a significant reduction in energy consumption at company's data centres. There is a nearly 16 per cent reduction in electricity consumption and a 17 per cent drop in carbon emissions from 2023 to also uses AI-powered analytics to help clients streamline processes, reduce energy waste, and align with global standards like the UN's Sustainable Development rise of AI in energy is also set to reshape the job market. While AI-powered automation in areas like predictive maintenance and grid management may reduce the need for some routine manual roles, it is expected to create significant new employment Savaliya, Chairman, Onix Renewable Ltd., specifically highlighted AI's value in hybrid renewable energy projects. 'AI for hybrid projects can specifically reduce human efforts to restrict excess energy to be injected into the grid which helps in stability,' Savaliya also noted its importance in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for balancing generation and consumption during peak and off-peak hours, underscoring the technological shift that will necessitate and create new roles for future professionals in the energy sector.
