Understanding CDM Methodologies - SuSanA

ERs = TJ project
X (tCO 2
/TJ) baseline
– Leakage
Emission
Reductions
5.7.3 AMS-I.C
Project Description
Project
Thermal
Energy
Baseline Emissions
per Unit of
Thermal Power
Leakage
Biomass-based
Heat Generation
Differentiation
between
Renewable and
Non-renewable
Biomass
AMS-I.C (version 12) covers various types of projects that use renewable
energy technologies to supply thermal energy to individual households or
users. Examples of projects include solar thermal water heaters and dryers,
solar cookers, energy derived from renewable biomass for water heating,
space heating, or drying, and other technologies that provide thermal energy
and displaces fossil fuel. Biomass-based co-generating systems that produce
heat and electricity are also included.
The most common projects using this methodology produce thermal energy
from agricultural residues.
Box 38: The differentiation between renewable and non-renewable
biomass in the baseline
Over the course of the evolution of AMS.I-C, the issue of differentiating between
renewable and non-renewable biomass in the baseline was raised a number
of times. Reducing the use of non-renewable biomass has been seen akin to
avoiding deforestation. As the latter is not eligible under the CDM, projects
reducing the use of non-renewable biomass have not been registered since late
2005. The SSC WG01 responded to the first request 281 by explaining that the key
issue was to determine whether the biomass used in the baseline was renewable
or non-renewable. SSC WG 01 decided not to accept the request, as no definition
of renewable biomass existed at the time. Another submission 282 requested that
the proposed methods to handle the treatment of leakage and the definition
of non-renewable biomass in the baseline be incorporated in the baseline. SSC
WG03 also rejected that request and required that references to “non-renewable
biomass” as a plausible baseline scenario be deleted in the simplified baseline
and monitoring methodologies for selected small-scale CDM project activities
(including in AMS-I.C).
Additionally, other requests for revision 283 were submitted to the SSC WG,
requesting that the installation of cook stoves be eligible project activities under
AMS-I.C. In response, the SSC WG 04 agreed to amendments to two new
methodologies not yet approved 284 . While a definition of renewable biomass was
agreed upon at EB 23, 285 negotiations are still underway at the COP/MOP level to
resolve this matter.
247248249250251
247
See SSC_05
248
See SSC_018.
249
See SCC_31, SSC_34 and SSC_35.
250
These methodologies are AMS-I.E – Switch from Non-Renewable Biomass for Thermal Applications by the User
– and AMS-II.G – Energy Efficiency Measures in Thermal Applications of Non-Renewable Biomass.
251
See Annex 18 of the EB23 Meeting Report.
106