Online Event

How can aerial measurements aid methane emissions reduction?

01 June 2020

Webinar series on Methane Emissions

First webinar:

Can satellite and other aerial measurements make a difference in reducing methane emissions?

This online event introduces the potential of satellites and other aerial measurement methods in detection, measurement, and abatement of methane emissions with a focus on technical potential, cost-effectiveness and the potential for widespread use.

Participants

The event moderated by Andris Piebalgs (FSR) will aim to achieve a wide representation of interested parties. The invited speakers and participants will include actors from regulatory bodies, industry, national and international organisations.

Now Live!

Programme

Monday 1 June

15.00- 15.05 Welcome

Andris Piebalgs | Florence School of Regulation/RSCAS/EUI

15.05 – 15.20 Introductory remarks:

Jonathan Banks | Clean Air Task Force

15.20 – 15.50 Roundtable 1: The Technology perspective

Stephen Conley | Scientific Aviation

Steven Hamburg | Environmental Defense Fund

Ilse Aben | SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Guiding questions:

How could aerial and other emerging measurement technologies contribute to the reduction of methane emissions?
What is the best way to use the gathered data?
What are the current and future capabilities of satellite measurements? What are their limitations?

15.50 – 16.05 Q&A with the audience

16.05 – 16.35 Roundtable 2: The Cost-efficiency and opportunities for a broad use

Antoine Rostand | Kayrros

Francisco del la Flor | Enagas

Paul Balcombe | Queen Mary University of London

Guiding questions

What are the opportunities for a broad use of those technologies?
How can aerial and satellite measurements interact with other methane data streams (e.g. company reporting) and methods (e.g. tower measurements, cameras, etc.)?
Can third-party tracking of emissions incentivise action from oil and gas companies?

16.35 – 16.45 Q&A with the audience

16.45 – 17.00 Concluding remarks

Stephanie Saunier | Carbon Limits

Andris Piebalgs | Florence School of Regulation/RSCAS/EUI

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Background

On 15^th of January 2020 the International Energy Agency (IEA), in collaboration with Florence School of Regulation (FSR), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Methane Guiding Principles partners, organized a workshop in Paris dedicated to overcoming the challenge of addressing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector through sound methane policies and regulations. The meeting was instrumental in gathering around one table a global network of methane policy and regulatory experts to share experiences and best practices for driving methane emissions reductions.

One of the major topics that emerged during the Paris workshop was the role of new technologies, especially satellite and aircraft-based instruments, in methane emissions mitigation. These technologies provide top-down emissions data that can supplement and reinforce measurements on the ground. Remote measurement can spot super-emitters, provide accurate and continuously updated data and show plumes of methane in higher resolution than ever before.

A growing number of satellite projects have recently been set in motion. In October 2017, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), GHGSat Inc., and Environmental Defense Fund will launch MethaneSAT in 2022, both of which will measure methane emissions globally. Furthermore, the accuracy and coverage of those readings is expected to ameliorate with the ESA preparing the launch of the Sentinel 5 satellite, and GHGSat planning to set in motion additional satellites.

With this influx of new aerial and satellite data, stakeholders must consider how to use this data in the most efficient way to drive meaningful methane reductions, including how best to integrate this top-down data with existing bottom-up measurement technology.