Latest news with #methaneemissions
Asharq Al-Awsat
02-07-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Bezos-backed Methane-tracking Satellite Lost in Space
A satellite backed by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been lost in space while carrying out an important climate change mission, New Zealand officials said Wednesday. Designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions with "unprecedented resolution", the MethaneSAT space probe was also funded by Wellington and the US-based Environmental Defense Fund. Plagued with technical problems, the satellite recently stopped responding to its Earth-bound controllers. "Clearly, this is a disappointing development," said Andrew Johnson, a senior official at the New Zealand Space Agency. "As those who work in the space sector know, space is inherently challenging, and every attempt -- successful or not -- pushes the boundaries of what we know and what we're capable of." The Environmental Defense Fund, which led the project, said it was "difficult news" but would not be the end of its methane-tracking efforts. MethaneSAT was designed to measure emissions of the potent greenhouse gas, which fuels climate change by trapping heat in the planet's atmosphere. It has proven notoriously difficult to get accurate estimates of the methane emissions belched out by oil and gas projects around the globe. "It was one of the most advanced methane tracking satellites in space, measuring methane emissions in oil and gas producing regions across the world," the MethaneSAT team said. Project lead Steven Hamburg said initial data gleaned by the satellite was "remarkable". "Recent measurements in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico revealed emissions three to five times higher than estimated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, while emissions observed in the South Caspian region are over 10 times higher than reported," Hamburg wrote on LinkedIn. MethaneSAT was launched into space in March 2024 on the back of a SpaceX rocket fired from California. Controllers first lost contact with the satellite on June 20, the MethaneSAT team said in a statement. They confirmed it had lost all power on Monday this week and was "likely not recoverable". "The engineering team is conducting a thorough investigation into the loss of communication," MethaneSAT said, according to AFP. "This is expected to take time. We will share what we learn." Despite its shorter-than-expected lifespan, MethaneSAT hailed the mission as a "remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment". Amazon founder Bezos pumped more than US$100 million into the project through his philanthropic Earth Fund. The satellite eventually succumbed after overcoming a string of technical glitches. It repeatedly entered a sleep, or stand-by, mode without prompting -- forcing engineers to perform a lengthy reset each time. One of its three thrusters also failed.
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Science
- RNZ News
Taxpayer funded satellite likely "irrecoverable" after losing contact with the ground
Artist's rendering of MethaneSAT, the satellite EDF developed. Photo: Supplied / Environmental Defence Fund Taxpayer-funded climate satellite MethaneSAT has lost contact with the ground and "is likely not recoverable." "While this is difficult news, it is not the end of the overall MethaneSAT effort, or of our work to slash methane emissions," said a statement released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the US group behind the satellite. MethaneSAT was given $29 million from the New Zealand government, with the aim of growing the space industry. The mission's goal was to name and shame oil and gas producers that were allowing planet-heating methane to escape into the atmosphere. But it has been plagued by delays , first to its launch date and then to the arrival of its promised data about global methane emissions. The University of Auckland has been waiting to take over the mission control at its new, partly taxpayer-funded Te Pūnaha Ātea Space Institute. The announcement of the satellite's demise came just two days after the latest deadline for handing control over to university staff and students. RNZ has been asking about problems with the satellite since September. In May, the mission's chief scientist said more intense solar activity because of a peak in the sun's magnetic cycle had been causing MethaneSAT to go into safe mode. The satellite had to be carefully restarted every time. There had also been a problem with one of the satellite's three thrusters, which maintain its altitude and steer the spacecraft. MethaneSAT had said it could operate fully on two thrusters. The new information helps explain why control of the satellite had to be handed back to its manufacturers in Colorado in March instead of going straight from Rocket Lab to the University of Auckland as planned. The university had 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 hand over. 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. New Zealand scientists had raised questions about what they saw as a lack of transparency with the New Zealand public about delays to the satellite's data. EDF, the environmental non-profit behind the 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". But just a few months later, after more questions from RNZ, MethaneSAT announced that control of the satellite had been transferred back to its maker Blue Canyon Technologies so it could fix "challenges." When RNZ previously asked EDF if its response in October had been true it 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 acknowledged in October 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. In March, Space Minister Judith Collins was asked about the mission's problems - but told Parliament she could not say because of confidentiality. In February, the government's Space Agency also cited the need for confidentiality when it declined to answer questions from RNZ about what was wrong. University of Auckland astrophysicist Richard Easther was among the critics of the mission's lack of communication about its problems. On Wednesday, he said New Zealand needed a "no blame" review to understand "how New Zealand blew past so many red flags about MethaneSAT's operation." "This is a tragedy for the people here who worked hard on it, and for New Zealand science." He said the mission "kept pumping out upbeat comms even after it became apparent that the spacecraft had major problems which in many cases appear to have been present since launch." "On Friday, June 20, the MethaneSAT mission operations lost contact with MethaneSAT. "After pursuing all options to restore communications, we learned this morning that the satellite has lost power, and that it is likely not recoverable. "While this is difficult news, it is not the end of the overall MethaneSAT effort, or of our work to slash methane emissions. "Launched in March 2024, MethaneSAT had been collecting methane emissions data over the past year. It was one of the most advanced methane tracking satellites in space, measuring methane emissions in oil and gas producing regions across the world. "The mission has been a remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment, and for its lasting influence on both industry and regulators worldwide. "The engineering team is conducting a thorough investigation into the loss of communication. This is expected to take time. We will share what we learn. "Thanks to MethaneSAT, we have gained critical insight about the distribution and volume of methane being released from oil and gas production areas. "We have also developed an unprecedented capability to interpret the measurements from space and translate them into volumes of methane released. "This capacity will be valuable to other missions. "EDF and MethaneSAT remain firmly committed to our core purpose of turning data into action to protect the climate including reducing methane emissions from the global oil and gas industry. "The advanced spectrometers developed specifically for MethaneSAT met or exceeded all expectations throughout the mission. In combination with the mission algorithms and software, we showed that the highly sensitive instrument could see total methane emissions, even at low levels, over wide areas, including both large sources (super emitters) and the smaller ones that account for a large share of total methane emissions, which were not visible from space until MethaneSAT. "EDF and MethaneSAT remain firmly committed to our core purpose of turning data into action to protect the climate, including reducing methane emissions from the global oil and gas industry. "We will be working with partners around the world to leverage the algorithms and associated software as well as the now-proven high precision technology that was developed as part of the MethaneSAT mission so the world has access to high quality actionable greenhouse gas emissions data on a global basis. "We will continue to process data that we have retrieved from the satellite and will be releasing additional scenes of global oil and gas production region-scale emissions over the coming months. "To solve the climate challenge requires bold action and risk-taking and this satellite was at the leading edge of science, technology and advocacy. "We also will continue to work closely with our partners to reduce methane emissions and implement the goals of the Global Methane Pledge, The Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter, Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0, the United Nations Environment Programme's International Emissions Observatory and Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and so many other efforts this mission was designed to support." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Reuters
17-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
NAACP threatens to sue Elon Musk's xAI over Memphis air pollution
June 17 (Reuters) - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on Tuesday sent a notice to billionaire Elon Musk's xAI, signaling its intention to sue the company over air pollution from the AI startup's data center in Memphis. The letter, sent by Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) on NAACP's behalf, alleges xAI has violated federal law by using methane gas turbines at its South Memphis data center without acquiring permits or "best available" pollution controls. Data centers that provide computing power for AI are highly power-intensive and require round-the-clock electricity. Given the slow pace of clean-energy deployments, the surging demand is being met by fossil fuels including natural gas and coal. Methane emissions from human activities such as oil and gas production, electricity generation and agriculture are short-lived in the atmosphere, but are often more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. Emissions from xAI's data center further exacerbate the already poor air quality in Memphis, SELC said. "These turbines have pumped out pollution that threatens the health of Memphis families. This notice paves the way for a lawsuit that can hold xAI accountable for its unlawful refusal to get permits for its gas turbines," SELC Senior Attorney Patrick Anderson said. "We take our commitment to the community and environment seriously. The temporary power generation units are operating in compliance with all applicable laws," an xAI spokesman told Reuters. The AI company has installed 35 turbines, nearly all of which were running without the required permits as of April, SELC said. The SELC added that while xAI had removed some smaller turbines, the company recently installed three larger turbines. The environmental legal advocacy organization said in August that xAI had installed 20 gas turbines at the site. Representatives of Elon Musk did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
National Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Oklahoma Producer Blake Production Partners with Bridger Photonics to Help Reduce Emissions
Article content BOZEMAN, Mont. — Bridger Photonics Inc. (Bridger), the global leader in methane emissions detection and quantification, announced today that it has partnered with Blake Production Company, Inc. (Blake Production) conducting aerial scans of certain assets owned or operated by Blake Production, helping the company detect and address methane emissions across its operations in Northwest Oklahoma. Article content Founded in 1987, Blake Production is an independent oil and gas producer with a commitment to operational excellence and environmental responsibility. Blake Production is demonstrating leadership by proactively adopting advanced emissions detection solutions to ensure accountability and efficiency to its many stakeholders. Article content 'Our partnership with Bridger Photonics underscores our dedication and commitment to remaining at the forefront of responsible energy production,' said a representative from Blake Production. 'With Bridger's cutting-edge technology, we are able to identify and mitigate emissions across our portfolio, which works to strengthen our operations and our commitment to nearby communities.' Article content Bridger scans hundreds of sites or miles of pipelines each day by air, providing precise and actionable emissions data with pinpoint accuracy. The aerial deployment and quality data enables operators like Blake Production to quickly and efficiently address emissions. Article content 'Blake Production is taking a proactive, solutions-focused approach to emissions management,' said Joel Baller, Chief Revenue Officer of Bridger Photonics. 'In today's environment—where regional operators are facing constrained budgets, limited manpower, and increasing pressure to operate sustainably—our technology enables a smarter path forward. By rethinking long-standing approaches, Blake is leveraging high-quality data to improve efficiency and reduce emissions without adding operational burden.' Article content For more information about Bridger Photonics visit Article content About Bridger Photonics Article content Bridger Photonics provides aerial methane detection and quantification technology to help the oil and gas industry detect, prioritize, and reduce emissions. Bridger's innovative Gas Mapping LiDAR™ solution enables actionable insights to meet operational and environmental goals. Article content About Blake Production Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Arab News
19-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Aramco cuts methane emissions by 11.4%, sets 2030 target to reduce upstream carbon intensity
RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has achieved an 11.4 percent reduction in methane emissions in 2024 and set a new 2030 target to cut upstream carbon intensity, according to its latest sustainability analysis. Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser reaffirmed the company's commitment to embedding sustainability across all areas of its operations in a new report, saying the target is part of the firm's 'broader roadmap' to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2050. Saudi Arabia is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2060, a commitment announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Saudi Green Initiative forum in 2021. As the Kingdom's flagship energy producer, Saudi Aramco plays a pivotal role in this transition by implementing decarbonization measures, expanding low-carbon energy investments, and deploying climate-focused technologies. 'This is Aramco's fourth Sustainability Report since announcing our ambition to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across our wholly-owned operated assets by 2050. To complement our net-zero ambition, we have also set a new 2030 interim target for reducing our upstream carbon intensity,' Nasser stated in the release. The interim goal aims to reduce carbon intensity in upstream operations to 8.6 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent or lower, compared to the current 9.7 kg CO2e/boe — already among its peers' lowest upstream carbon intensity. Aramco has also set a target to achieve a 15 percent reduction by 2035 compared to its 2018 baseline, and has outlined an ambition to mitigate 52 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually by 2035, relative to its business-as-usual emissions forecast. Meanwhile, upstream methane intensity decreased to 0.04 percent in 2024, down from 0.05 percent the previous year. The report outlines Aramco's sustainability strategy, including efforts to minimize emissions from existing energy sources, increase efficiency through artificial intelligence, and boost investments in carbon capture, hydrogen, and renewables. To underline the company's drive to net-zero, Nasser highlighted a shareholder agreement signed by Aramco in 2024 to develop a carbon capture and storage hub in Jubail. 'When completed, this facility is expected to be one of the largest such projects in the world,' he said. The CEO added that hydrogen is another area where the company sees potential growth opportunities, 'leading to our acquisition of a 50 percent stake in a blue hydrogen company.' Aramco also signed a non-binding agreement with mining giant Ma'aden to form a joint venture focused on mineral exploration in Saudi Arabia. 'The joint venture would draw on Aramco's extensive geoscience data and subsurface knowledge, with lithium production potentially commencing by 2027,' Nasser added. The company's growing use of AI is central to its decarbonization drive. AI-enabled analytics are now used to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across key facilities, while predictive algorithms help optimize equipment performance and reliability. 'Looking ahead, we believe a multi-source, multi-speed, and multi-dimensional approach is required for the global energy transition in order to properly address the energy security, affordability and sustainability priorities of individual countries,' Nasser concluded in his message. According to the Net Zero Emissions in Saudi Arabia by 2060 report in 2023 by King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, the Kingdom is targeting an annual reduction of 278 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by the end of the decade in order to reach its net-zero goal by 2060. The plan includes expanding renewables to 50 percent of the energy mix, phasing out liquid fuels in power generation, and planting 650 million trees. The Kingdom is also aiming to capture 44 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2035.
