ABB has secured a third contract with GHGSat, the global leader in high-resolution greenhouse gas monitoring from space, to manufacture optical sensors for its C12, C13, C14 and C15 satellites set to launch into orbit in 2024.
The new satellites will join GHGSat’s expanding constellation, which detects and quantifies industrial gas leaks from space. ABB has built the payloads – the instruments carried on board the satellites – for ten of GHGSat’s emissions monitoring satellites launched into space.
Earlier this year, GHGSat reported that its existing satellites have doubled their methane emission measurement capabilities thanks to the exceptional performance of these sensors. This has allowed GHGSat to accelerate the scaling of its monitoring services, helping industries such as oil and gas, power generation, and mining to understand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“The new contract is a testament to GHGSat’s confidence in ABB’s manufacturing capabilities to build complex, high-performing optical payloads for hyperspectral earth observation,” said Marc Corriveau, head of Global Operations, Business Line Analytical, ABB Measurement & Analytics. “This year, we doubled our manufacturing infrastructure dedicated to space projects so that we can better serve the booming private space sector.”
“Our collaboration, which began in 2018, has showcased ABB’s technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities,” said Stéphane Germain, CEO of GHGSat. “This experience has fortified our belief in ABB’s capacity to support GHGSat’s expansion in building proprietary
high-resolution payloads. Such partnerships are the key to achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately making an impact in the battle against climate change.”
ABB has been a leader in gas sensing from orbit for over two decades, starting with the development of the Canadian Space Agency SCISAT mission payload, which profiles the concentration of more than 70 different gas types down to parts per trillion from cloud top to outer space.
ABB also provided hyperspectral technologies to the Japanese GOSAT programme, which pioneered the global mapping at regional scale of sources and sinks of greenhouse gases from orbit starting with a first satellite in 2009 and an improved version in 2018.
Today, ABB builds on this legacy by manufacturing enhanced versions of GHGSat’s proprietary wide-angle Fabry-Perot (WAF-P) interferometer, which tracks the same infrared fingerprint of greenhouse gases. In this way, ABB applies its vast expertise acquired in earlier high-profile government space missions to the private sector space, with a focus on actionable low-latency satellite data for civil uses. Space is the only location that allows greenhouse gas emissions to be monitored freely across jurisdictions, enabling unbiased reporting.
Machine health monitoring with ifm ifm - South Africa
Editor's Choice IT in Manufacturing
With ifm’s machine health monitoring, early signs of wear can be detected and unexpected failures prevented. Combined with equipment preventive maintenance software, interventions can be scheduled proactively to avoid costly downtime.
Read more...Powering Africa’s sustainable mining VEGA Controls SA
Editor's Choice Level Measurement & Control
At the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, one theme rises above all others, progress through precision. For VEGA, a global leader in process instrumentation, this mission aligns perfectly with its core purpose, which is turning measurement into meaningful progress.
Read more...SEW-EURODRIVE transforms drivetrain uptime SEW-EURODRIVE
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
The DriveRadar IoT Suite from SEW-Eurodrive is an ideal solution for industrial condition monitoring. This powerful ecosystem of intelligent sensors, edge devices and cloud-based analytics ensures that customers have full visibility and control of their operations.
Read more...PC-based control for flat wire motors for electric vehicles Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
Special machine manufacturer, ruhlamat Huarui Automation Technologies has unveiled the second generation of its mass production line for flexible stators with bar winding (pins). This enables an extremely short production cycle and line changeover times, supported by PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...Heavy impact, smart control Axiom Hydraulics
Editor's Choice Pneumatics & Hydraulics
Every now and then a project lands on your desk that’s equal parts heavy machinery and fine control - a tantalising mix for any engineer. A client approached Axiom Hydraulics with a project exactly like this.
Read more...Pneumatics makes a technological leap with the proportional valve terminal Festo South Africa
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
Festo continually makes bold technological leaps to keep pace with global advancements. Controlled Pneumatics is redefining the boundaries of compressed air technology to meet the demands of today’s most advanced applications.
Read more...Driving fluid power forward
Editor's Choice News
The National Fluid Power Association is developing its latest Industrial Technology Roadmap for 2025, showing how hydraulics and pneumatics are changing to meet new industrial demands.
Read more...World’s hottest engine
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
Scientists have built the world’s smallest engine. It’s also the world’s hottest. It could provide an unparalleled understanding of the laws of thermodynamics on a small scale, and provide the foundation for a new, efficient way to compute how proteins fold.
Read more...PC-based control optimises robotic parts handling on plastics machinery Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
NEO is a cartesian robot developed by INAUTOM Robótica in Portugal for parts removal on plastics machinery. Its aim is to increase system productivity. NAUTOM Robótica has entered into a strategic partnership with Bresimar Automação to increase the working speed of the cartesian robots using advanced control and motion solutions from Beckhoff. The result is a comprehensive, future-proof automation solution for its entire family of cartesian robots.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version