What if we measured
CO₂ emissions from space?

At the end of 2024, QAIrbon was the recipient of a €34,000 Copernicus Relay FPCUP award, co-funded by CNES and the European Commission, presented at the Rencontres du Spatial in the Southern Region. This is the first tangible incentive for an approach that aims to support the industrial ecological transition by providing very high resolution CO₂ measurements from space data. Hervé Hamy, Chairman of the company, Philippe Durieux, Managing Director, and Benoit Blanco, Technical Director, give us an insight into the genesis of the company and its ambitions.

Why are high-precision measurements so essential?

Hervé Hamy: Accuracy is crucial to guarantee the reliability of the measurements used in environmental audits and carbon quota management. Our data must be beyond reproach to meet strict regulatory standards and it will be validated by third party certification. We have developed technology that is capable of capturing CO₂ emissions from space with unrivalled accuracy. We are working in cooperation with the big names in space, including Thales Alenia Space, and the solution is going to be validated by leading space agencies.

How does your satellite emission measurement technology work? Have you tested this technology in the field, and can you tell us about its limitations?

Benoît Blanco: Our technology is based on satellites equipped with sensors capable of detecting radiation in the near infrared and measuring the absorption of light by a plume of CO₂. This makes it possible to accurately map the concentration of the gas.

We are currently carrying out a full-scale test on major industrial facilities including steelworks and power stations. This test is already demonstrating the ability of space sensors to detect CO₂ emissions, even under complex atmospheric conditions.

One of the main challenges remains the detection of CO₂ due to its high natural concentration in the atmosphere. To overcome this, we use sensors with very high spectral resolution and highly complex models derived from the state of the art science on the use of meteorological data and atmospheric physics.

What are the main applications for business?

Jean-Philippe Durieux : Carbon accounting is now mandatory for companies. Our data enables them to monitor and reduce their CO₂ emissions in accordance with environmental regulations. They are also used as part of carbon quota management and can be integrated into certified extra-financial reports.

QAIrbon is keen to work with several major European industries, for example to enable them to reduce their CO₂ emissions by selecting suppliers with the best environmental performance, wherever they are in the world. This approach is essential for companies, which have to be fully committed to the entirety of their emissions under new European environmental regulations.

By 2027, QAIrbon aims to become the world leader in measuring industrial emissions from space. The company is actively working on setting up its own network of dedicated satellites to guarantee optimum global coverage.

A Côte d'Azur company to watch... And to keep in our ecosystem, even after its launch.

QAIrbon is the result of the meeting in 2022 between Jean-Philippe Durieux and Hervé Hamy, two Thales Alenia Space employees sharing a common ambition, to use the company's technologies to launch an initiative with a high environmental impact. In 2023, they join the Thales startup incubator to work on the group's strategic positioning in the regulatory CO₂ measurement sector. Their project was selected by Thales Alenia Space, leading to the official creation of QAIrbon in July 2024. Benoît Blanco joined the adventure in December 2024.