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24 Feb 2025
Aim is to make methane detection technology more widely accessible, with 'off-the-shelf' satellite imaging payload.
HySpex, a subsidiary of Norway’s Norsk Elektro Optikk (NEO), says it has begun developing a new hyperspectral imaging system for satellite-based methane sensing that should enable many more companies to track emissions of the gas.
Supported by the European Space Agency’s “InCubed” project - a public-private partnership aimed at industrial innovation - the aim is to enhance global monitoring of methane emissions from space, and add to the existing HySpex portfolio of similar imaging systems for drone and other airborne deployments.
Trond Løke, the CEO of NEO, said: “Securing an ESA InCubed project is a major milestone for our company and a testament to the cutting-edge work being done by our space department.
“This collaboration not only validates our technology but also accelerates our mission to drive innovation in the space sector. With ESA’s support, we are confident that we can push the boundaries of Earth observation and satellite technology, creating real impact for the industry and beyond.”
Off-the-shelf instrument
Methane is acknowledged as a major contributor to climate change, as although its atmospheric concentration is much lower than that of carbon dioxide, the molecule’s absorption and transmission of infrared light results in a much more potent warming effect. On the plus side methane does not remain in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, meaning that mitigation efforts should have a much more rapid impact.
NEO says that satellite-based hyperspectral imaging offers a precise and scalable way to identify methane plumes and leaks, in principle enabling industries to detect and mitigate their emissions effectively.
However, the technology remains relatively complex, with custom hyperspectral cameras demanding substantial financial resources, years of research and development effort, rigorous testing, and the risk of failure in space.
HySpex thinks that one answer is its methane satellite camera (MSC), which it claims will eliminate these barriers by offering a ready-to-deploy, low-risk alternative based on commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) parts.
“The new system will provide a commercially available tool for Earth observation services, expanding access to high-quality methane monitoring,” it said, touting key technological advances including a refined optical system for higher imaging precision, an extended spectral range to cover critical methane absorption bands, and improved cooling for stability in space.
Strong market interest
With funding from ESA, the project will progress through key design and testing phases over the next year, said the Oslo-based company, adding: “A commercial agreement for multiple flight models has already been proposed, signaling strong market interest.
“This initiative will make methane detection technology more widely accessible, offering an alternative to proprietary solutions. By opening the market to multiple operators, it is expected to play a significant role in environmental monitoring and commercial satellite services.”
Ole Bjørn Eithun Pedersen, a research scientist at NEO and contractor project manager for the InCubed effort, added: “Being the second most significant contributor to global warming, identifying and stopping methane emission has been recognized as one of the most effective ways of limiting further global warming.
“Using our existing HySpex SWIR cameras we have already proven that we can accurately identify methane emissions remotely. Now, building on our proven systems, we are developing a new and highly sensitive satellite camera optimized specifically for [more accurate and reliable] methane detection and quantification on a large scale.”
Building upon the existing SWIR640 camera from HySpex, the MSC version is said to have a development cycle of only 12 months, with optical and mechanical design well under way already.
The Norwegian firm is also part of the "HyperImage" European project, which is aiming to develop similar technology for applications in vertical farming - where hyperspectral data can be used to monitor crop health and optimize yields - and drones.
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