Carbon Mapper

In 2021, Planet entered into a partnership with Carbon Mapper, a new nonprofit organization, and its partners – the State of California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA JPL), the University of Arizona, Arizona State University (ASU), High Tide Foundation and RMI to build a hyperspectral satellite constellation with the ability to pinpoint, quantify and track point-source methane and CO₂ emissions. Planet’s hyperspectral satellite mission allows for increased transparency and accountability by providing rapid methane leak detection, while its partner, Carbon Mapper, is developing a global portal for broader adoption and providing a trusted certification chain underpinned by its public-private partnership. This technology can provide governments with the tools to measure point-source methane emissions and enable remediation and prevention.

Once launched, Planet’s methane-specific hyperspectral offering, named Tanager, is intended to help users identify and quickly address methane plumes emanating from specific facilities. According to the US EPA, the major sources of methane emissions in urban areas come from landfills, agricultural sites, waste combustion, and fugitive emissions from oil and natural gas systems or wastewater treatment. Tanager’s capabilities can be tasked to assist in infrastructure surveys, producing greenhouse gas measurements for climate planning, and as a monitoring capability for areas of concern. Planet’s satellite-based technology aims to balance coverage and sensitivity, covering enough area with a frequency to meet user needs while providing the sensitivity needed to find facility-level leaks.