Established in 2011, the Canadian data technology firm, GHGSat, uses its satellite constellation to monitor greenhouse gas emissions at unparalleled ground resolution and sensitivity (25 m and 100 kg of CH4/hour respectively), which enables the tracking and attribution of both point-source and area-source emissions, from facilities worldwide. 

With 12 satellites in orbit as of December 2024, plus 9 more to be launched in the next couple of years, GHGSat has become the global reference for the remote sensing of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, thereby providing unique actionable insights for the scientific community and for government users alike. 

The patented instrument of the GHGSat constellation is a wide-angle fixed-cavity Fabry–Pérot (F–P) imaging spectrometer, able to resolve methane (CH4) absorption lines in shortwave infrared (SWIR), where water (H₂O) and Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) absorption lines are also present. 

GHGSat data have been scientifically validated through controlled release tests and have been used by several research institutions (NASA, ESA, SRON, Caltech, Harvard, Environment and Climate Change Canada, etc.) 

Through its well-established membership of ESA’s Third Party Mission (TPM) programme, GHGSat data are being delivered on a free basis to a range of stakeholders, supporting cutting-edge science and the development of operational applications.

Carles Debart is Europe’s Director of Business Development at GHGSat, focusing on Institutional and Governmental customers.

Born in Barcelona, Carles achieved part of his studies there (Telecom Engineering BSc.), however, he continued them abroad in China first (MSc.), and then in the UK (Innovation Management). 

In his current role, he is leveraging the unique capacities of GHGSat’s satellite constellation to tackle the most urgent threat to our planet: climate change. By partnering with the scientific community, governments and public agencies, GHGSat data are used to understand, verify and ultimately drive mitigation actions of GHG emissions.

ESA: Just what does the role of Director of Institutional Business Development entail?

Carles: Basically, I build partnerships with governments and public agencies, to integrate GHGSat’s high-resolution methane monitoring solutions into environmental programmes. The role involves promoting GHGSat’s data capabilities, securing institutional funding, and driving collaborations with initiatives like ESA’s Third Party Mission and Copernicus Contributing Missions, among others. 

It supports policy development, research, and actionable insights for methane reduction, while expanding GHGSat’s presence in Europe. 

ESA: How does GHGSat support ESA’s Third Party Mission programme?

Carles: GHGSat supports ESA’s TPM programme by providing its high-resolution methane emissions data to complement existing public datasets, like data delivered by Sentinel-5P. Through TPM, GHGSat contributes to advancing scientific research, and for projects that require detailed insights into smaller emission sources, like wastewater plants, agriculture or landfills. This collaboration enhances the understanding of methane emissions across various sectors and regions, filling critical gaps in data resolution and detection thresholds that public missions cannot achieve alone. 

ESA: What benefits does the TPM programme provide to GHGSat?

Carles: ESA’s Third Party Mission programme provides GHGSat with increased visibility and credibility, establishing it as a trusted data provider within the Earth observation community. It fosters collaborations with leading researchers and institutions, expanding GHGSat's role in scientific studies and environmental monitoring. 

The programme enables diverse use cases for GHGSat’s high-resolution methane data, validating their capabilities. It also supports the integration of commercial satellite data into government programmes, enhancing market opportunities. Overall, TPM strengthens GHGSat’s institutional relationships and drives growth in the Earth observation sector.

ESA: What are the most exciting aspects and/or challenges of your role?

Carles: The best part of my role is working with cutting-edge satellite tech to help tackle methane emissions and make a real impact on climate action. Collaborating with governments, industries, and institutions across Europe, which is leading the change on sustainability, is both exciting and rewarding. 
That said, it can be challenging to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and adapt to the different needs of such a diverse market. As a non-European company, there’s occasionally some pushback in comparison to local companies—which often pushes us to show the value we bring even more clearly.

ESA: How did your studies and/or previous experiences shape your career and any last thoughts on your overall experience?

Carles: I have always been, even before graduating, involved in Earth Observation and I have seen the evolution of the industry from its infancy to where we are now. I still remember 15 years ago, in my early days as an intern, analysing images manually – one by one – to extract reports!

We have come a long way since then, haven’t we? My studies as an engineer have always allowed me to get pretty deep in technical conversations and consulting customers, which is often appreciated. I am also proud to have worked in very diverse EO segments with different types of data (maritime, defence, environmental monitoring, Oil & Gas, emergency management, etc.), as well as in very different types of roles, from very technical all the way to sales.