Intel from Above: Spotting Methane Super-Emitters with Satellites

The document discusses the role of satellite technology in identifying industrial methane super-emitters to support the 1.5°C temperature goal and the Global Methane Pledge. It introduces a scientific metric called "completeness" and a corresponding tool (SPECT) to help policymakers and industry operators evaluate satellite capabilities for leak detection, methane accounting, and policy design.

• Satellite technologies allow for the rapid detection, location, and quantification of large industrial methane point sources, which is essential for meeting the Global Methane Pledge and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
• The report utilizes a scientific metric known as "completeness" to enable meaningful comparisons between different satellite platforms and constellations.
• The Satellite Point Source Emissions Completeness Tool (SPECT) is designed to assist industry operators and policymakers in evaluating technologies for leak repair, improving methane accounting, and informing the design of mitigation policies.

APA

RMI (2023). Intel from Above: Spotting Methane Super-Emitters with Satellites. https://rmi.org/resources/intel-from-above-spotting-methane-super-emitters-with-satellites/

Chicago

RMI. Intel from Above: Spotting Methane Super-Emitters with Satellites. 2023. https://rmi.org/resources/intel-from-above-spotting-methane-super-emitters-with-satellites/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Intel from Above: Spotting Methane Super-Emitters with Satellites |date=8 February 2023 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/intel-from-above-spotting-methane-super-emitters-with-satellites/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2023intel, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Intel from Above: Spotting Methane Super-Emitters with Satellites}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/intel-from-above-spotting-methane-super-emitters-with-satellites/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }