ABB sensor on satellites to detect greenhouse gas emissions

An optical sensor manufactured by ABB was deployed on Sunday with the successful launch of satellite Hugo from GHGSat, a company specialising in greenhouse gas sensing services in space.

The ABB-supplied optical sensor can map methane emissions from space at a resolution that is 100 times higher than previous sensors. While previously only larger regions could be surveyed, for the first time the greater granularity now allows the identification of the source of emissions. An additional nine units are currently under manufacture at ABB to be launched by the end of 2022, ready to be on board across the first private satellite constellation dedicated 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 that will enable governments and industries around the world to meet their emission reduction targets and reduce the negative impact on global warming.

“We selected ABB for its ability to deliver world-class instruments while meeting the challenges of a new space company like ours,“ said Stephane Germain, CEO of GHGSat. “We strive to innovate for the needs of the future, and we’re excited to work with ABB to achieve that.”

“ABB shares GHGSat’s goal of reducing emissions through the creation of their greenhouse gas sensing constellation,” said Marc Corriveau, General Manager ABB Measurement & Analytics Canada. “Our selection as the manufacturer for these advanced sensors demonstrates our competitiveness and strong fit with the private space sector requirements.

“The space revolution is well underway and ABB, with its heritage of unique space instruments and serial production of advanced measurement sensors for industrial applications, is extremely well positioned to serve this emerging sector,” he continued.

GHGSat announced the constellation contract award with ABB in October 2020, with first deliveries in 2021. The unit launched by SpaceX was a single unit procured by GHGSat from ABB two years ago ahead of a selection for the constellation.

ABB is also involved with greenhouse gas sensing with the Canadian SCISAT mission and the Japanese GOSAT series of satellites. The SCISAT sensor has been tracking long-term subtle composition changes in the Earth’s atmosphere down to parts per trillion of more than 70 molecules and pollutants since 2003. Weather agencies across the world also base their predictions on ABB equipment flying on board 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.