GHGSat

Learning Objectives

• Describe what GHGSat does and why satellite methane monitoring offers a unique vantage point
• Explain how AI processes satellite imagery to pinpoint emission sources
• Identify who relies on independent, worldwide emissions data from space

What Is GHGSat?

GHGSat is a Montreal-based company, founded in 2011, that monitors greenhouse-gas emissions from space. It operates the largest commercial constellation of satellites dedicated to this task, and AI processes the imagery those satellites capture to pinpoint methane sources down to individual sites. As the fleet expands, GHGSat offers gas operators, regulators, and utilities a high-resolution, independent view of emissions anywhere in the world.

GHGSat matters because a satellite can observe facilities that are remote, spread across many countries, or otherwise hard to reach with ground equipment. Rather than instrumenting each site, it looks down from orbit, giving an outside, independent measurement of what is actually being emitted. That worldwide, arm's-length perspective is valuable for anyone who needs to verify emissions beyond an operator's own reporting.

What GHGSat Does

• Satellite constellation — operates the largest commercial fleet of satellites dedicated to greenhouse-gas monitoring
• High-resolution detection — pinpoints methane sources down to individual sites, not just broad regions
• Global coverage — observes facilities worldwide, including remote and hard-to-reach locations
• Independent measurement — provides an outside view of emissions rather than relying on operator self-reporting
• Emissions data products — delivers processed findings to operators, regulators, and utilities

How AI Is Applied

The satellites capture raw imagery of the atmosphere, but a plume of methane is a subtle signal buried in a complex image affected by terrain, surface reflectivity, clouds, and sunlight. GHGSat uses AI to process that imagery — separating a genuine methane signature from background and noise, and locating precisely which site on the ground the plume is coming from.

The same processing estimates how much methane is being emitted, converting a picture from space into a specific, sited, and sized measurement. As the constellation grows and captures more data, high-resolution image processing is what turns a stream of satellite passes into reliable, site-level emissions intelligence that customers can act on and trust as independent.

Who Uses GHGSat

GHGSat's data is used by oil and gas operators verifying emissions across their own and their suppliers' facilities, by regulators and government agencies checking compliance and building emissions inventories, and by utilities and other organizations that need an independent view of methane from their operations or supply chains. Its worldwide reach makes it useful wherever ground-based monitoring is impractical or where an outside measurement is required.

Pricing

GHGSat provides emissions monitoring data and services with quote-based, enterprise pricing. Cost depends on the sites and regions covered, the frequency of observation, and the data products and reporting required. Organizations contact GHGSat directly for a tailored quote.

Company Details

Strengths

• Global reach — observes facilities anywhere in the world, including remote and inaccessible sites
• Independent vantage — measures emissions from orbit rather than relying on operator self-reporting
• Site-level resolution — pinpoints methane sources down to individual facilities
• Largest dedicated fleet — the biggest commercial constellation focused on greenhouse-gas monitoring
• No ground equipment — provides coverage without deploying sensors at each site

Limitations and Considerations

• Observation cadence — a satellite sees a site during passes, so coverage is periodic rather than truly continuous like on-site sensors
• Conditions matter — clouds, lighting, and terrain can affect detection from space
• Complements ground systems — satellite data works best alongside, not instead of, continuous on-site monitoring for fast response
• Enterprise scope — quote-based data and services aimed at operators, regulators, and large organizations

Key Takeaways

• GHGSat operates the largest commercial constellation of satellites dedicated to greenhouse-gas monitoring
• Its AI processes satellite imagery to separate methane signatures from noise and pinpoint sources down to individual sites
• The result is a high-resolution, independent, worldwide view of emissions without ground equipment
• Best for gas operators, regulators, and utilities that need independent, global methane measurement, especially for remote or hard-to-reach facilities