Methane leak detected from space in the UK now successfully mitigated

The satellites observed the leak from a pipeline in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on September 11, 2022 and was subsequently discovered by researchers at Leeds University using data acquired by GHGSat.

The leak was mitigated, thanks to the immediate action of the researchers and GHGSat, who alerted the owner of the pipeline, West & Wales Utilities. Following an investigation, repairs were completed by June 13 2023, after which time GHGSat satellites recorded no further emissions.

Scientists first came across the leak while working on a project investigating the ability of sensors mounted on telecommunication towers to measure greenhouse gas emissions. While reviewing the data, researchers from Leeds University found that the source of the methane leak was releasing the greenhouse gas at a rate of over 200kg per hour.

It was estimated that the 11-week methane leak was equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of over 7,500 average homes, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency emissions calculator.

The initial discovery was made possible due to GHGSat’s fleet of nine commercial satellites, which monitor greenhouse gases at a resolution down to 25m on the ground. These high-resolution satellites can attribute emissions to exact individual facilities, with such sensitivity that small leaks are visible and accurately measurable from space. A subsequent scientific paper by researchers at Leeds University and GHGSat is set to evaluate the further role that satellites can play in pinpointing methane leaks.

In a statement, Bryn Orth-Lashley, technical operations and service delivery manager at GHGSat, said, “This is a compelling example of why we must work collaboratively, bringing technologies, sectors, and people together to tackle a challenge as complex as climate change.”

GHGSat’s high resolution data is continually generating new insights into the Global Methane Cycle, as well as supporting European scientific activity aimed at monitoring international climate treaties. In June of this year, GHGSat signed a new £5.5m partnership with the Satellite Applications Catapult to provide satellite data on domestic and international methane emissions to UK organisations. In addition, GHGSat will provide observation data directly to the UK government and Ordnance Survey, to work towards wider active climate mitigation.