Super-emitters in the spotlight
Methane has been notoriously difficult to detect in Australia – until now.
A new open-source platform called Open Methane is now live, using satellite technology to track methane emissions across Australia with an impressive 10x10 km resolution.
The goal of Open Methane is to give everyone free access to independent data and keep a closer eye on the country’s biggest methane emitters.
Last week, the platform launched in Canberra, where it revealed Australia’s top 20 methane hotspots - all of which are near major coal or gas extraction sites.
Early findings from Open Methane suggest that methane emissions might actually be double what’s been reported, largely because the methods currently in use are outdated.
The project is led by atmospheric scientist Professor Peter Rayner, previously with the University of Melbourne. "Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and knowing where it’s coming from is key to tackling global warming," Rayner said.
"The data suggest that the coal and gas sectors – not agriculture – are the dominant contributors of anthropogenic emissions. This is a crucial finding."
Every one of the top 20 emitting locations appeared to be tied to coal or gas extraction, he said, underlining the fossil fuel sector's significant role in Australia’s methane emissions.
"While further validation is required, the data suggest that the coal and gas sectors – not agriculture – are the dominant contributors of anthropogenic emissions. This is a crucial finding.”
Methane-sensing satellite technology has been ramping up this year, with two recent launches placing super-emitters under increasing scrutiny from space.
The International Energy Agency says methane is responsible for about 30% of global temperature rise since the Industrial Revolution. In Australia, however, it’s been tough to measure accurately. A recent review by the Climate Change Authority found issues with the methane data reported under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme.
Open Methane is stepping in to bridge these gaps to provide a clearer picture of the country’s methane emissions. The platform, which had been in Beta mode, was officially launched by Rod Sims, chair of the Superpower Institute and former ACCC chair, in Canberra last week.
The Open Methane platform is the product of almost two years of collaboration between scientists, designers and developers. Open Methane is committed to the Open, Accessible and Auditable Data framework, which ensures the data presented is not only available to all, but can also be scrutinised, replicated and verified by others. Results are only made public once its numbers are robust and defensible.
