AIRMO takes aim at methane leaks from space

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that around 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas is lost yearly due to leaks, venting, and flaring – enough to meet nearly two-thirds of the EU's annual gas consumption. AIRMO, a space-tech company founded in 2022, aims to tackle methane emissions in the energy industry.

Their monitoring platform integrates data from drones, aircraft, and satellites to pinpoint methane leaks, measure emissions, pinpoint sources, and provide actionable insights for companies to address leaks and comply with regulations. CEO and co-founder Daria Stepanova, a space engineer with experience in satellite development, launch operations, and commercialisation, leads AIRMO's commercial strategy, fundraising, and international expansion.

Stepanova, who once led a student team in building satellite systems, explains that AIRMO is developing two instruments for atmospheric monitoring. One is a compact, powerful microlidar tech, while the other is a short-wave infrared spectrometer, both providing unique methane emission data more cost-effectively than existing commercial systems. Their approach involves deploying small satellites to achieve accuracy, reliability, and affordability.

Detecting methane from space, AIRMO's instruments can detect and quantify methane emissions more accurately than current commercial systems. While larger leaks are relatively easy to spot, smaller leaks in pipelines and storage facilities require more detailed monitoring. Ground monitoring, typically manual and costly, involves workers walking along pipelines or inspecting offshore infrastructure, making it inefficient and challenging.

AIRMO's technology offers a more cost-effective and continuous solution, especially for larger leaks.

Before the satellite launch, AIRMO tests its instruments on drones and aircraft, flying them over facilities to detect and measure emissions. Although deploying the technology on drones and aircraft provides valuable insights into customer usage, AIRMO sees satellites as crucial for scaling its monitoring platform. Their satellites offer global, continuous monitoring without the need to transport equipment into each country, though they can't match the precision of drones.

The cost of methane leaks is significant, making AIRMO's solution an attractive option for the industry.