Using GHGSat’s Satellite Constellation for Palm Oil Mill Methane Detection

A recent open access paper in Environmental Research Letters on IOPScience used GHGSat data as part of a study on Palm Oil Mill methane detection.

The paper, Detecting methane emissions from palm oil mills with airborne and spaceborne imaging spectrometers, provided mixed results depending on the source of data, though GHGSat data fared well.

The research paper explored the potential of advanced airborne and spaceborne imaging spectrometers to detect methane emissions from palm oil mills (POMs), a significant but under-monitored source of greenhouse gases.

The instruments, aside from GHGSat, included the Italian PRISMA hyperspectral satellite, the German EnMAP hyperspectral satellite, NASA’s EMIT and AVIRIS-NG, the latter being an airborne instrument.

The study analyzed emissions from anaerobic ponds in major palm oil-producing countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Colombia. Methane plumes were successfully detected in some cases, particularly with the more sensitive AVIRIS-NG and GHGSat systems, but challenges like retrieval artifacts and limited sensitivity of certain satellites were noted.

The study underlines the environmental significance of methane emissions from palm oil effluent and highlights the need for sustainable practices, such as biogas systems, to mitigate these emissions. It concludes that while existing satellite technologies can provide critical insights, further advancements in resolution and detection sensitivity are essential to accurately monitor and manage methane emissions from this sector, offering significant potential for climate change mitigation.