Picarro Network Intelligence to Cut Methane Emissions in United Kingdom

Under an official partnership expansion, Picarro Inc. will install its methane emission management and reduction solutions throughout Cadent’s gas distribution network in the United Kingdom—the largest network domestically. The Network Intelligence package includes high-sensitivity, vehicle-mounted methane and ethane sensors along with advanced analytics and software.

"This new milestone in our journey to do the best for our customers is a demonstration of our commitment and leadership in transforming the industry to meet the challenges of reducing emissions and to ensure safety and affordability for all our customers," said Howard Forster, Chief Operating Officer of Cadent. Aside from cutting emissions, Picarro’s technology allows Cadent to leverage proactive, data-supported operations and management to improve asset visibility and operational efficiency.

The integrated solution merges advanced hardware, analytics, and software to provide Cadent operators with insights on network-related methane emissions. Its Advanced Mobile Leak Detection (AMLD) technology generates geographic maps of the network and its emissions, allowing operators to plan/execute maintenance work, deploy resources, and maximize asset value.

Isotopic methane analyzer | Image Credit: Picarro

"The opportunity to expand our partnership with Cadent, a leader of the natural gas industry in Europe, has been invaluable for Picarro and we look forward to helping them reach their goals,” said Alex Balkanski, Chief Executive Officer of Picarro. “This success is a testimony to our collaborative business approach that aims to transform our customers' practices from leak detection towards network intelligence.”

SpaceX’s Orbital Methane Detection

In early March 2024, SpaceX announced the successful launch of its MethaneSAT emissions monitor, detaching from the SpaceX Transporter-10 to enter orbit around Earth. The satellite is designed to protect Earth’s climate by detecting methane emissions in oil and gas operations. MethaneSAT detached from the transporter just after 4:00pm PT on Monday, March 5.

MethaneSAT was developed by a subsidiary of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and will detect and quantify total methane emissions over wide regions of the Earth’s surface—previously unattainable by other satellites. Data from MethaneSAT will allow companies and regulators to track emissions and give stakeholders free, near real-time access to the data. Citizens, governments, and investors will also have the ability to compare the results to emissions goals and obligations.

Orbiting the Earth 15 times a day, MethaneSAT will measure changes in methane concentrations as small as three parts per billion. High sensitivity, high resolution, and a wide field of view will enable MethaneSAT to see the entire emissions picture. Interactive emissions data will be available on the MethaneSAT website and on the Google Earth Engine. The satellite was made possible by the support of EDF donors and a partnership with the Government of New Zealand.

In addition to detecting methane emission sources and rates for a given region, MethaneSAT will make it possible to compare emission loss rates across major oil and gas areas and performance over time. Specially developed analytics will trace these emissions back to the source within major target regions.