Australia's open cut coal mines could be emitting more than double the methane levels officially recorded.

New analysis has raised serious concerns about the accuracy of national carbon emissions data and the country's climate change mitigation strategies. 

Former competition regulator Rod Sims, now chair of the Superpower Institute, has released initial results from the institute’s OpenMethane satellite monitoring program.

The OpenMethane program has identified significant discrepancies between the methane emissions reported by coal mine owners and those detected by independent satellite monitoring. 

According to Sims, the discrepancy is much larger than previously thought, with initial data suggesting more than a 100 per cent underreporting compared to company disclosures in some cases. 

This stark difference is a global concern, considering methane's potency as a greenhouse gas - up to 100 times more impactful than carbon dioxide over the short term.

“If we can just cut our methane emissions, that makes an enormous contribution to greenhouse gases. And if we cannot measure them, then how can we manage them?” Sims has told reporters. 

He says the outdated and opaque methods used by mine owners to monitor emissions should be replaced with robust on-ground systems that can provide accurate measurements irrespective of wind conditions.

The Superpower Institute’s OpenMethane program uses advanced satellite technology to monitor methane emissions across Australia. 

The program begins by estimating methane emissions based on national inventory data and applying these estimates to identified methane hotspots.

Using the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) aboard the Sentinel 5 Precursor satellite, OpenMethane captures high-resolution data of methane concentrations. This satellite data is then integrated with atmospheric models that simulate how methane disperses based on wind and weather conditions, enhancing the accuracy of localisation and quantification of emissions.

To complement satellite observations, the program uses ground monitoring stations whenever possible. 

These stations are crucial for verifying satellite data and providing a more detailed scrutiny of methane emissions, accounting for local environmental variables.

The gathered data undergoes rigorous analysis to compare observed concentrations with expected levels based on national inventories. Significant discrepancies prompt detailed investigations and adjustments in emission estimates, contributing to more accurate national and global methane tracking.

Founded by clean energy advocate Ross Garnaut, the Superpower Institute has been advocating for Australia to leverage its renewable resources for industrial purposes. 

The alarming findings from the OpenMethane program are set to bolster their campaign urging the Albanese government to invest in additional ground monitoring stations. 

Methane is responsible for about a third of global warming due to its high heat-trapping ability. In response to global initiatives, Woodside Energy committed to ending routine flaring of natural gas wells by 2030 at the recent COP28 climate conference in Dubai. 

The new data suggests more robust actions are needed across the industry.