Mapping emissions \\\ The ABB supplied optical sensor can map
methane emissions from space at a resolu- tion that is 100 times higher than any other sensors. Whilst previously only larger regions could be surveyed, for the first time the new greater granularity now allows the identifica- tion of the source of emissions. Nine more are under manufacture at ABB to be launched by the end of 2022 ready to be onboard across the first private satellite constellation dedi- cated to emission measurement. Space offers the ideal location to freely
monitor emissions across jurisdictions and quantitatively report on improvements. The ABB sensors will provide valuable insights which will enable governments and industries around the world to meet their emission re- duction targets and reduce the negative im- pact on global warming. According to Corriveau, ABB shares GHGSat’s goal of reducing emissions through the creation of their greenhouse gas sensing constellation. “The space revolution is well under way and ABB with its heritage of unique space instru- ments and serial production of advanced measurement sensors for industrial applica- tions is extremely well positioned to serve this emerging sector,” says Corriveau. With its involvement in the Canadian SCISAT mission and the Japanese GOSAT series of satellites, ABB has been at the forefront of the field of greenhouse gas sensing from space for more than two decades. ABB optical equip- ment already in space cumulates more than 100 years of reliable operation. The SCISAT sensor has been tracking long-term subtle composition changes in the earth’s atmo- sphere down to parts per trillion of more than 70 molecules and pollutants since 2003. Similarly, weather agencies across the world base their predictions on ABB equipment fly- ing onboard the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellites (NPP and JPSS), which saves lives by improving the timeliness and accuracy of weather forecasts for up to seven days. For ABB, the venture into space is an ex-
tension of its existing earthbound continuous emission monitoring, for which the company has over 60,000 systems installed in more than 50 countries worldwide. Continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) contin- uously record and evaluate emissions data across all industries. They provide important information for the environmental and eco- nomic operation of production facilities. The range includes the ACF5000 that accurately and reliably monitors up to 15 gas compo- nents simultaneously. DS&I
The microsatellite
shared rackspace with other payloads on
board a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle that left from Cape
Canaveral in Forida earlier this year
First results are in
Not long after the launch of Hugo, GHGSat reached its target milestone of having the satellite’s first image of a methane plume. The satellite detected a methane plume from an oil and gas facility while overflying Asia. As a test and verification exercise, GHGSat commanded Hugo’s sister satellite, Iris, to map the same territory a day later. Equipped with the same patented high-
resolution instrument, Iris was able to verify the data capture and the results indicate that Hugo has the same or better capability as Iris without modification. Stephane Germain is delighted with the company’s achievement in getting its
A previous image from the Iris satellite in 2020 shows a large plume of methane emanating from an Australian coal mine.
first results so quickly. “The speed of this first methane observation is exceptional and we’re very proud to have Hugo detecting emissions within its first week in orbit,” he says.
2021 /// DAQ, Sensors & Instrumentation \\\ 13
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