German climate technology company AIRMO is developing a new satellite system designed to precisely detect methane emissions from individual sources on Earth, potentially transforming how greenhouse gas leaks are monitored worldwide.
Why Methane Monitoring Is Becoming Critical
Methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Scientists estimate it accounts for roughly 30 per cent of the warming currently affecting the planet.
Despite the seriousness of this situation, methane emissions from individual facilities are often poorly measured. For example, many oil and gas operators still rely on estimates rather than direct measurements, which can lead to significant underreporting.
At the same time, regulatory pressure is increasing. The European Union’s Methane Regulation and initiatives such as the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 now require far more accurate emissions reporting across the energy sector.
These developments are driving demand for monitoring technologies capable of detecting leaks at specific sites rather than relying on broad regional estimates.
How AIRMO’s Space Sensor Technology Works
AIRMO, founded in 2022 and based in Berlin and Luxembourg, is developing a compact sensor payload that can be mounted on small satellites.
The system combines a short-wave infrared (SWIR) pushbroom spectrometer with a proprietary micro LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system. Together, these sensors analyse how methane interacts with light reflected from the Earth’s surface.
The spectrometer identifies the chemical signature of methane, while the LiDAR component measures atmospheric conditions such as aerosols and wind patterns that can affect measurement accuracy.
According to the company, this combination significantly improves the precision of emissions measurements compared with spectrometer-only systems.
The result is a sensor small enough to fly on nanosatellites but powerful enough to detect methane plumes from very small individual sources.
Why Combining LiDAR And SWIR Improves Accuracy
Traditional satellite monitoring systems often rely only on spectrometry (identifying substances by how they absorb light). While effective for detecting large emissions areas, these systems can struggle to identify smaller leaks from individual industrial assets.
AIRMO’s approach adds LiDAR to correct for atmospheric effects that can distort readings.
The company explains that its satellite system is designed to deliver “reliable and accurate point source measurements”, allowing emissions to be traced back to specific infrastructure.
It also says the technology allows operators to “allocate emissions to individual sources — a huge leap forward in global emissions monitoring technology innovation.”
This level of precision could make it easier for regulators and companies to identify leaks quickly and repair them before they release large quantities of methane.
From Drones And Aircraft To Satellites
AIRMO doesn’t just make satellites. The company already deploys methane monitoring technologies on drones, aircraft and ground-based systems. These tools are currently used to inspect pipelines, storage facilities, LNG terminals and other energy infrastructure.
Drone-mounted sensors can detect leaks as small as one gram of methane per hour, while aircraft systems can survey hundreds of square kilometres during a single flight.
These airborne systems allow operators to identify leaks during inspections. Satellites could extend that capability by providing continuous monitoring across large geographic areas.
In Orbit By 2027
AIRMO says it plans to launch its first satellite in 2027 in partnership with Bulgarian satellite manufacturer EnduroSat.
The longer-term goal is to deploy a constellation of 12 satellites capable of providing near real-time global methane monitoring.
According to AIRMO, its satellite network will eventually provide “global and near real time capabilities” for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions.
Other Companies
AIRMO is actually part of a rapidly growing field of companies developing space-based methane monitoring systems.
Several satellite operators already provide emissions detection services. Canadian company GHGSat, for example, operates satellites capable of detecting methane emissions from individual industrial sites.
Other initiatives include MethaneSAT, backed by the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Carbon Mapper project, which is developing satellites designed to detect methane and carbon dioxide emissions from major industrial sources.
These systems are helping researchers and regulators identify previously unknown methane leaks around the world.
AIRMO’s technology aims to improve on existing systems by combining spectrometry and LiDAR sensors in a smaller satellite platform, potentially delivering higher resolution measurements with lower deployment costs.
How A Satellite Constellation Could Transform Emissions Monitoring
If successful, AIRMO’s satellite constellation could provide continuous global coverage of methane emissions.
Once fully deployed, the system is expected to deliver frequent updates from orbit, allowing operators and regulators to detect leaks much faster than current inspection-based approaches.
Rapid detection is important because methane leaks can persist unnoticed for long periods, releasing large quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Improved monitoring could help energy companies identify and repair leaks more quickly while also supporting more accurate emissions reporting.
What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?
For energy companies and infrastructure operators, technologies such as AIRMO’s satellite monitoring system could significantly change how methane emissions are measured and managed.
Regulators are increasingly demanding site-level emissions data rather than estimates, particularly under EU methane regulations and international reporting frameworks such as OGMP 2.0. Many UK organisations that import, trade or finance energy infrastructure are already affected by these reporting expectations.
Satellite-based monitoring could help companies identify leaks faster, verify emissions data and demonstrate compliance with emerging environmental standards. This may reduce regulatory risk and help organisations respond more quickly when emissions problems occur.
For UK businesses involved in finance, insurance and investment, improved methane monitoring could also provide more reliable data when assessing climate risk, sustainability performance and ESG reporting claims.
Companies involved in supply chains linked to oil, gas and energy infrastructure may also face increasing expectations from regulators, investors and customers to demonstrate that emissions are being measured accurately and managed responsibly.
As satellite sensing technologies continue to evolve, tools capable of detecting emissions from individual facilities may become an increasingly important part of global climate monitoring and corporate environmental accountability.