CO2 Emissions from Power Plants Pinpointed by Satellite
GHGSat Releases Data From Vanguard Spacecraft
Data that identifies carbon dioxide emissions from power plants around the world has been released by GHGSat in a demonstration of significant progress from the company’s newest satellite, Vanguard (GHGSatC-10).
“Measuring CO2 emissions at the scale of individual facilities involves several challenges that are unique, compared to methane,"
Dan Wicks, GHGSat U.K.
As Vanguard’s data continues to undergo rigorous scientific validation, these observations represent a step forward for the first commercial satellite designed to measure carbon dioxide emissions from individual industrial facilities.
The released observations were captured in November and December 2024, with emission rates ranging from 700 to 1500 metric tons per hour.
Vanguard is the first satellite in a new carbon-detecting constellation under development by GHGSat. It uses the same patented, high-resolution sensor as the company’s pioneering fleet of methane-focused satellites, which can trace methane emissions down to individual industrial facilities, often directly to a single piece of equipment, from an orbit of 500 km (≈310 miles).
“Measuring CO2 emissions at the scale of individual facilities involves several challenges that are unique, compared to methane," said Dan Wicks, GHGSat U.K. Managing Director. "Complicating factors are more likely, and can interfere with the light that our satellites analyse to pinpoint the presence of the greenhouse gas. The benefits of high-resolution CO2 data will make the effort worthwhile, however. The observations shared today were generated as part of Vanguard’s ongoing scientific validation, and we’re excited to share our progress.”
Ultimately, the goal of GHGSAT’s carbon-detecting constellation is to provide industrial operators, governments, and the financial community with independent CO2 data that accurately quantifies carbon dioxide emissions. This data will enable industry operators to ensure compliance with international regulations, and inform effective policymaking for governments around the world. For financial institutions, asset-level emissions data grants the ability to invest, or trade carbon credits, with greater confidence, and maximize return on investment.
With the launch of its first methane-detecting satellite in 2016, GHGSat pioneered this approach for methane, which led to significant impact. In 2024 alone, GHGSat’s methane-focused constellation made over 4 million measurements across more than 80 countries. Since beginning operations, GHGSAT data has enabled the mitigation of emissions equivalent to the annual total of more than 3.5 million gasoline-powered cars on U.S. roads.