Carbon Mapper
Carbon Mapper is a 501c3 nonprofit that operates the Tanager satellite constellation and an open data portal to detect, pinpoint, and quantify methane and CO2 super-emitters at facility-level resolution for governments, regulators, NGOs, journalists, and researchers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPasadena, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Carbon Mapper firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carbon Mapper
- Legal name
- Carbon Mapper, Inc.
- Website
- https://carbonmapper.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Carbon Mapper is a 501c3 nonprofit that operates the Tanager satellite constellation and an open data portal to detect, pinpoint, and quantify methane and CO2 super-emitters at facility-level resolution for governments, regulators, NGOs, journalists, and researchers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carbon Mapper industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite-based emissions monitoring
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Space Research and Technology (927110)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Remote Sensing & Geospatial MRV (Satellite, Aerial, LiDAR, SAR) (EUABACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Satellite/Aerial/Remote Sensing MRV (Methane plumes, land-use change) (EUAHADAL), Methane Abatement Projects (Landfill Gas, Manure, Coal Mine Methane, O&G Methane) (EUABABAL), Climate & Emissions Data Management (Data Lake, Integration, APIs) (EUABAEAC), Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)
Keywords
Where Carbon Mapper is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pasadena
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carbon Mapper business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Funding: Carbon Mapper is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that operates entirely on philanthropic funding from donors committed to climate action impact. The organization does not generate commercial revenue from its data products, which are made publicly available for non-commercial use.
- Public Data Portal (Non-Commercial): Data products are provided free to the public for non-commercial use aligned with the mission to drive greenhouse gas emission reductions. Commercial licensing is available through separate agreements for uses outside the non-commercial terms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Public Access (Non-Commercial) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Carbon Mapper product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carbon Mapper detects, pinpoints, and quantifies methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) point-source emissions at facility-level resolution using hyperspectral imaging spectrometers on satellites (Tanager constellation) and aircraft. It publishes these observations through a free public data portal and engages governments, regulators, NGOs, and facility operators to drive mitigation action on super-emitter events across oil and gas, waste, coal, and agriculture sectors.
Product overview
Carbon Mapper operates a satellite and aircraft-based remote sensing system for detecting, pinpointing, and quantifying methane and CO2 super-emitters at facility-level resolution. The core offering consists of the Tanager satellite constellation (currently Tanager-1, with expansion planned), the Carbon Mapper Data Portal for public data access, and complementary airborne survey services. Data products include Methane Quicklook and Methane Monitoring Subscription. The system leverages hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy to detect emissions across oil & gas, waste, coal, agriculture, and electricity sectors. Next-generation AEMIS technology and SWIR-only Tanager variants are in development for launch 2027-2028.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tanager-1 Satellite Hyperspectral emissions-sensing satellite that detects, pinpoints, and quantifies point sources of methane and CO2 at 30-meter resolution across oil & gas, waste, coal, and agriculture sectors.
- Carbon Mapper Data Portal Public web portal providing accessible observations of methane and CO2 super-emitters globally, enabling users to detect, pinpoint, and quantify emissions at facility scale. Database includes 33,781+ methane plumes and 6,988+ CO2 plumes.
- Airborne Methane Surveys Aircraft-based remote sensing service using imaging spectrometers for methane detection and quantification, including statewide surveys for agencies such as California Air Resources Board and Pennsylvania to identify and quantify super-emitter events.
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 large methane emissions events identified and mitigated in California in first six months of state satellite program (May-Nov 2025)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Carbon Mapper
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Carbon Mapper technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
Carbon Mapper partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.
- UNEP International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO)corePartnership to scale up satellite methane monitoring across global oil and gas sector. Carbon Mapper contributes granular emissions data from Tanager satellite to IMEO's Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), enabling super-emitter detection at thresholds as low as 100kgCH4/hr. Collaboration aims to advance emissions monitoring and data transparency toward Global Methane Pledge goal of 30% methane reduction by 2030.
- Clean Air Task Force (CATF)majorCollaborating on next-generation AEMIS technology deployment and government partnerships for methane monitoring. CATF workshop for Kazakhstan policymakers on strengthening oil, gas, and coal methane regulations.
- Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI)coreCollaboration to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas sector through satellite data and industry-engagement efforts. Initiative aims to expand methane mitigation actions globally, supporting operational improvements and emissions reporting.
- Government of KazakhstanmajorSigned MoU with Global Methane Hub to develop Kazakhstan's first National Methane Action Plan, establish National Methane Office, and leverage Carbon Mapper satellite technology for oil, gas, and waste sector monitoring.
- Government of BrazilmajorBrazilian Ministry of Environment partnering with CATF and Carbon Mapper to develop initiative using satellite and remote sensing technology to detect and mitigate methane from country's waste sector, supporting Global Methane Pledge commitment.
- Planet Labs PBCflagshipPlanet designs and builds Tanager satellites using hyperspectral imaging sensor technology from NASA JPL. Planet operates the satellite fleet and contributes rapid revisit satellites and analytics to deliver methane emission detection for governments, operators, and citizens.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)coreJPL delivers hyperspectral imaging spectrometer payload for Tanager satellites, leveraging advanced remote sensing technology with heritage on aircraft and spacecraft. JPL provides ongoing technical assistance for payload development.
- University of ArizonacoreProvides scientific leadership for methane and CO2 emissions data delivery, including developing new algorithms and analytic frameworks. Testing with ongoing airborne research program. Provides key staff resources to Carbon Mapper nonprofit.
- Arizona State University (ASU)coreProvides scientific leadership for non-methane and CO2 data products. ASU's Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science develops algorithms and supports Planet's efforts to develop environmental indicators. Global Airborne Observatory used for airborne prototyping and field campaigns.
- California Air Resources Board (CARB)coreState agency maintaining policy leadership on climate pollutants. Already working with University of Arizona, JPL, and ASU on airborne demonstrations. Developing public platform for greenhouse gas data and exploring land-use data for forest management and fire prevention.
- RMIcoreHelps guide methane use case applications, satellite observation targeting, industry mitigation opportunities, and policy development through Oil and Gas Solutions Initiative. Partner in developing data tools like WasteMAP and Oil Climate Index.
- Global Methane HubcoreKey nonprofit partner in methane reduction ecosystem, coordinating with Carbon Mapper on initiatives including Methane Response Basecamps and national methane action plans.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves1 record
Carbon Mapper competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Planet Labs PBC: Flagship partner and operator of the Tanager satellites; broader satellite Earth observation company with daily-revisit imaging constellation. Comparable in providing satellite-based Earth observation data, though Planet's core business is general imagery rather than emissions-specific monitoring.
- Sentinel-5P / TROPOMI (ESA): European Space Agency satellite carrying the TROPOMI instrument for atmospheric methane and trace gas monitoring. Comparable in providing satellite-based methane data at regional scales, though with much coarser spatial resolution than Tanager-1's 30m facility-level detection.
Emerging players
- Spire Global: Satellite operator offering Earth intelligence data including weather, maritime, and aviation tracking, with emerging emissions and methane analytics capabilities. Broader scope than Carbon Mapper but partially comparable as a satellite-based environmental data provider serving commercial and government customers.
- Kayrros: Asset-level environmental and energy analytics firm combining satellite data with proprietary models to quantify methane and CO2 emissions globally. Comparable in targeting facility-level attribution and serving oil & gas and financial customers, though operating on a commercial analytics model.
- MethaneAIR: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory airborne methane mapping program using the AVIRIS-NG instrument. Directly comparable technology heritage (same JPL lineage as Tanager), operating from aircraft rather than satellites — making it a complementary capability rather than direct competitor.
Others
- Climate TRACE: Coalition using satellites, aircraft, and other sensors to inventory greenhouse gas emissions from sectors worldwide. Comparable mission of providing transparent, independent emissions data, though Climate TRACE is an aggregator/coordinator while Carbon Mapper operates its own satellite infrastructure.
Direct peers
- Seekops (now part of TotalEnergies-affiliated initiatives): Provider of mobile and aerial methane sensing technology for upstream oil & gas leak detection. Comparable focus on facility-level methane quantification using optical sensing technology, serving a partially overlapping customer base of operators and LDAR programs.
- Kairos Aerospace: Aerial methane detection company using aircraft-mounted sensors to survey oil & gas basins for leaks. Complementary to satellite MRV with higher spatial resolution but lower coverage area; both serve the same end customers (operators, regulators) and target super-emitter detection.
- GHGSat: Commercial operator of the largest dedicated methane-detecting satellite constellation, offering facility-level methane detection to oil & gas, waste, and industrial operators. Most direct comparable to Carbon Mapper's satellite methane MRV mission, differentiated primarily by commercial vs. open-data model.
- MethaneSAT (Environmental Defense Fund): EDF-led satellite mission purpose-built for methane emissions monitoring at regional and facility scales. Directly comparable mission and target stakeholder ecosystem (regulators, oil & gas operators, climate advocates), though operated by an advocacy nonprofit rather than a public-good data coalition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carbon Mapper social profiles
Digital presenceCarbon Mapper financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carbon Mapper leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Carbon Mapper funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carbon Mapper M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carbon Mapper
What does Carbon Mapper do?
Carbon Mapper detects, pinpoints, and quantifies methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) point-source emissions at facility-level resolution using hyperspectral imaging spectrometers on satellites (Tanager constellation) and aircraft. It publishes these observations through a free public data portal and engages governments, regulators, NGOs, and facility operators to drive mitigation action on super-emitter events across oil and gas, waste, coal, and agriculture sectors.
Is Carbon Mapper a public or private company?
Carbon Mapper is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Carbon Mapper founded?
Carbon Mapper was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Carbon Mapper based?
Carbon Mapper is headquartered in Pasadena, United States, in the North America region.
How does Carbon Mapper make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Funding is the primary driver. The others are public Data Portal (Non-Commercial).
Who are Carbon Mapper's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Planet Labs PBC and Sentinel-5P / TROPOMI (ESA). Emerging players are Spire Global, Kayrros and MethaneAIR. Climate TRACE is listed as an others. Direct peers are Seekops (now part of TotalEnergies-affiliated initiatives), Kairos Aerospace, GHGSat and MethaneSAT (Environmental Defense Fund).
Does Carbon Mapper have an API?
Yes. Carbon Mapper offers a non-commercial API for data export and access. The Terms of Use state that users may 'export data for use in external applications' and that the Terms govern access via 'our API.' Alternative licensing can be negotiated for commercial use. Data is released with some delay after each observation for quality control review.
What industry is Carbon Mapper in?
Carbon Mapper's product category is Satellite-based emissions monitoring. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABACAF, Remote Sensing & Geospatial MRV (Satellite, Aerial, LiDAR, SAR), with a secondary code of EUAHADAL, Satellite/Aerial/Remote Sensing MRV (Methane plumes, land-use change). Its NAICS code is 54136 and its SIC code is 3826.