Israeli Startup Momentick Demonstrates Satellite Detection of Small Methane Leaks

Satellite technology is opening new possibilities for identifying methane leaks that traditional monitoring systems may struggle to detect. Israeli climate technology company Momentick has demonstrated that satellite imagery can identify a methane release estimated at less than 10 kilograms per hour, according to findings published in the scientific journal Nature.

The result emerged from a large-scale international experiment designed to evaluate how accurately satellites can detect and measure methane emissions under controlled conditions. By showing that relatively small releases can be identified from space, the research points to a potential new tool for energy companies seeking to reduce gas losses and strengthen environmental oversight.

The findings also highlight the differences in performance between satellite systems and the analytical techniques used to interpret their data, underscoring the need for continued improvements in remote sensing.

An international experiment tests satellite capabilities

The study was led by researchers at Stanford University, working with colleagues from the University of Michigan and other institutions. Over the course of a year, the research teams carried out 746 test events in Arizona, including 481 controlled methane releases and 265 cases in which no emissions occurred.

Fifteen analysis teams from nine countries assessed information collected by 12 satellites. Together, they produced more than 2,250 estimates without prior knowledge of the actual quantities of methane released.

The researchers described the project as the largest controlled evaluation of space-based methane detection conducted to date. Its findings provide a comparative assessment of the technologies currently available to identify and quantify emissions from orbit.

Detecting emissions below 10 kilograms per hour

Momentick's results using imagery from the WorldView-3 satellite attracted particular attention. The company estimated one methane release at 9.47 kilograms per hour, corresponding to the smallest emission tested during the experiment.

The Israeli startup also reported detecting four of the six releases below 100 kilograms per hour examined using the same satellite. According to the company, this represented the highest number of detections within that emission category among the participating analysis teams.

In a separate phase of the experiment involving the Tanager-1 satellite, Momentick reported detecting every tested release, achieving a 100% detection rate. Carbon Mapper recorded the same result during that phase.

These findings suggest that combining high-resolution satellite imagery with specialized analytical software could improve the identification of relatively small methane sources. However, the results do not establish that all satellites or detection methods can achieve comparable performance in every environment.

Important limitations remain

Despite the promising results, the researchers identified several factors that could affect the reliability of satellite-based monitoring.

One important limitation concerns the experimental setup. Researchers already knew the approximate locations of the emission sources, allowing them to evaluate detection and measurement capabilities at identified sites. Real-world monitoring often requires systems to locate leaks across extensive areas without prior knowledge of where emissions may be occurring.

Weather conditions also remain a challenge. Cloud cover can obstruct observations and reduce the effectiveness of satellite measurements. In addition, some artificial intelligence-based analytical approaches generated false positives, raising questions about how reliably automated systems can distinguish genuine emissions from misleading signals.

The study therefore demonstrates the potential of satellite technology under the conditions tested, rather than establishing a universal ability to detect every small methane leak from space.

A financial incentive to reduce methane losses

Methane monitoring has implications that extend beyond climate policy. The gas is a powerful greenhouse gas, while emissions from energy infrastructure can also represent a direct commercial loss for producers.

When methane escapes from pipelines, processing facilities or other energy assets, companies lose a potentially valuable product. More effective detection could help operators identify problematic locations, prioritize maintenance and reduce unnecessary waste.

Satellite-based monitoring offers a potential advantage because it can provide observations without requiring dedicated detection equipment to be installed at every facility. Although satellite data cannot replace every form of on-site inspection, it could help companies decide where further investigation and repairs are most urgently needed.

Improved emissions data could also support regulators and financial institutions in evaluating environmental performance and exposure to climate-related risks.

Insurance emerges as a potential market

Founded in Israel in 2020, Momentick develops software designed to identify and quantify methane and other greenhouse gas emissions through satellite imagery. Its platform integrates information from different satellite systems with computer vision, algorithms and artificial intelligence to locate emission sources and estimate their intensity.

The company has also been developing applications for the insurance and financial sectors, where environmental data could provide additional insight into the risks associated with energy infrastructure.

In January 2025, Momentick announced a $5 million funding round led by FinTLV Ventures, with participation from Menomadin and TAU Ventures. The investment was intended to support the company's expansion into insurance and financial risk management.

For insurers, more detailed information about methane emissions could help inform assessments of environmental exposure and support decisions concerning coverage. Energy companies could similarly use the information to identify operational weaknesses and demonstrate progress in reducing emissions.

From scientific validation to commercial deployment

The results published in Nature offer Momentick an important opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of its technology in a controlled scientific setting. They also contribute to a broader effort to make methane emissions easier to observe, measure and manage.

The next challenge will be translating experimental performance into dependable monitoring across diverse operating environments, including locations affected by changing weather conditions and complex infrastructure.

As satellite coverage and analytical methods continue to evolve, remote methane detection could become a more useful component of environmental risk management. Its long-term value will depend on the accuracy of measurements, the ability to identify previously unknown sources and the extent to which the resulting information leads to effective repairs and measurable reductions in emissions.