Understanding CDM Methodologies - SuSanA

Technical line
losses are to
be included in
calculation of
Project Emissions
but not in the
Baseline Emissions
Box 42: The consideration of technical line losses in the baseline
An amendment of various small-scale methodologies was requested to account
for technical line losses in cases where electricity is the baseline 289 . The request
claimed that the baseline was not accurately estimated under AMS-I.C and that
AMS-I.C was not consistent with all methodologies of category II that refer to
AMS-I.D for the calculation of the grid emission coefficient. SSC WG 08 rejected
this request explaining that the combined margin approach of AMS I.D was
designed to estimate the emission factor of a hypothetical plant replaced by the
project, and is therefore meant to estimate a counterfactual scenario.
In response to a similar request 290 SSC WG 12 reiterated that CDM methodologies
are meant to produce conservative estimates and accordingly, technical line
losses should be included in the calculation of projects emissions and excluded
from baseline emission calculations. Should it be possible to demonstrate that
the project activity has no significant impact on the grid, then the calculation
of baseline emissions could include a consideration for technical losses. In all
other cases, a conservative approach to baseline emissions calculation should be
adopted.
255256
Project Emissions
Leakage
Calculation, if
Reuse of replaced
Equipment
PoA Leakage
No Shift to Fossil
Fuels elsewhere
Project emissions are typically assumed to be zero.
Leakage
Leakage is to be considered if the energy generating equipment is transferred
from another activity or if the existing equipment is transferred to another
activity.
Leakage under a PoA: There is a risk of leakage as the PoA may divert
biomass residues from other uses, which may subsequently lead to an
increase in emissions from fossil fuel combustion or other sources. If
biomass residues are co-fired in the project plant, project participants shall
demonstrate that the use of the biomass residues does not result in an
increase in fossil fuels use or an increase in GHG emissions elsewhere.
Monitoring
Metering of
Sample of Projects
In cases where baseline emissions are calculated using the energy produced
multiplied by an emission factor, monitoring shall be conducted by metering
the energy produced by a sample of the systems.
In the case of cogeneration projects, monitoring shall be done by metering
the thermal energy and electricity generated.
Systems
generating less
than 5 CERs/
year only need to
record Operating
Hours
If the emissions reduction per energy production system is less than 5 tonnes
of CO 2
a year monitoring shall consider:
i. Recording annually the number of systems operating; and
ii. Estimating the annual hours of operation of an average system.
Projects using biomass or biomass and fossil fuel need to monitor the
following additional items:
255
See SSC_71.
256
See SSC_115.
110