Cutting-edge space-based observations from NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) 2 and 3 missions have showcased their ability to precisely monitor carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at their origin. In a groundbreaking study, these missions focused on Bełchatów Power Station in Poland, Europe’s largest coal-fired power plant, demonstrating the potential of space technology to track changes in CO2 emissions on a local scale.
Overpasses by the OCO 2 and 3 satellites between 2017 and 2022 allowed researchers to analyze the emission plumes from Bełchatów Power Station. The data revealed fluctuations in CO2 levels that aligned with the power plant’s electricity generation patterns. Shutdowns, whether temporary for maintenance or permanent for decommissioning, were also successfully identified through changes in emissions.
NASA’s OCO-2 satellite, launched in 2014, was initially designed to map natural and human-made carbon dioxide emissions across regions and continents. Its successor, OCO-3, repurposed spare components from OCO-2 and has been aboard the International Space Station since 2019. OCO-3’s mapping mode, designed for sweeping observations, unexpectedly proved effective in creating detailed maps of specific areas, such as Bełchatów.
The revelation that these instruments could discern emissions from individual facilities was deemed a “pleasant surprise” by Abhishek Chatterjee, the project scientist for OCO-3 at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The findings suggest that the scientific community can extract more valuable information from the data than initially anticipated.
Large facilities like power plants contribute significantly to global CO2 emissions, accounting for about half of fossil fuel-related emissions. Bełchatów Power Station, operational since 1988, holds the title of the world’s largest lignite-fired power plant. Its potential closure by 2036 aligns with the Polish government’s plans.
Ray Nassar, the study’s lead author and a senior researcher at Environment and Climate Change Canada, emphasized that current emissions reports often rely on estimates or surface-level data. The OCO-2 and OCO-3 missions offer a unique opportunity to enhance the accuracy of such reports, providing a more detailed understanding of when and where emissions occur.
Looking ahead, the extended mission operations of OCO-3 aboard the space station will further contribute to monitoring CO2 emissions. The technology serves as a promising “pathfinder” for future satellite missions, emphasizing the critical role of precise measurements in understanding anthropogenic emissions.
The success of this study marks a significant stride in leveraging space-based observations to tackle environmental challenges and assess the impact of emission reduction policies with greater accuracy.
