Rendering of MethaneSAT. Credit: Environmental Defense Fund.

US-based Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has unveiled a plan to develop and launch a satellite that will trace and measure human-made sources of methane emissions from space.

The new purpose-built MethaneSAT will primarily be designed to measure the level of methane released from oil and gas facilities.

Data from the satellite will be provided to governments and companies to identify problem areas and savings opportunities, measuring progress over time.

EDF has raised $400m in funding and collaborated with Harvard University and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory to develop the satellite.

“The satellite will use a 200km viewing area at intervals of up to seven days to monitor approximately 50 major oil and gas regions.”

Work on the MethaneSAT has already begun, with its launch expected in late 2020 or early 2021.

EDF Climate and Energy senior vice-president Mark Brownstein said: “Years of data gathered by earth-bound researchers confirm that the oil and gas industry has a serious methane issue.

“We also know that it’s possible to solve it, and some companies are starting to.

“But the pace today doesn’t match the size of the problem. We need to go much farther, much faster. Data from MethaneSAT will give everyone involved a crucial tool to accelerate the process.”

MethaneSAT will also be able to measure areas of interest with a new level of precision.

The satellite will use a 200km viewing area at intervals of up to seven days to monitor approximately 50 major oil and gas regions. This represents more than 80% of global production.

MethaneSAT will also record emissions from feedlots, landfills, and other man-made methane sources.