ABB’s Hyperspectral Cameras Enhance Emissions Monitoring Constellation

ABB has secured its third contract with GHGSat, a company specializing in greenhouse gas monitoring from space. The multinational corporation will manufacture hyperspectral cameras for four satellites scheduled to launch in 2024.

The satellites, named C12, C13, C14, and C15, will join GHGSat's existing constellation, which is designed to detect and quantify industrial gas leaks from space. ABB has already built the payloads for ten of GHGSat's emissions monitoring satellites.

GHGSat has significantly increased its methane emission measurement capabilities over the past two years, resulting in the mitigation of 5.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from industrial facilities worldwide.

"Our collaboration with ABB, which began in 2018, has demonstrated ABB's technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities," said Stéphane Germain, CEO of GHGSat. "This experience has strengthened our confidence in ABB's ability to support GHGSat's expansion in building high-resolution payloads. Partnerships like these are crucial in achieving substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and making a tangible impact in the fight against climate change."

ABB emphasized its extensive involvement in gas sensing from orbit for over two decades. It started with the development of the Canadian Space Agency SCISAT mission payload, which profiled the concentration of 70 different gas types from cloud top to outer space, down to 'parts per trillion'.

The company also provided hyperspectral technologies to the Japanese GOSAT program, which pioneered the global mapping of greenhouse gas sources and sinks from orbit at a regional scale. ABB's contributions began with the launch of the first satellite in 2009 and an improved version in 2018.

In related news, Kuva Space is exploring hyperspectral data services under a Copernicus contract.