Understanding CDM Methodologies - SuSanA

Project boundary
The project encompasses the physical, geographical site of the methane
recovery facility.
Baseline scenario and additionality
The baseline scenario is the situation where, in the absence of the project,
biomass and other organic matter are left to decay anaerobically within the
project boundary and methane is emitted to the atmosphere.
Beyond the barrier analysis, project participants may use other tools to
complement their additionality analysis, including the latest version of the
“Tool for the demonstration and assessment of additionality”.
Baseline Emissions
Baseline Scenario:
Waste that
would decay
anaerobically
CO 2
emissions
only
Default Flare
Efficiency 90%, if
Compliance with
Manufacturer’s
Specifications,
otherwise 50%
Open Flares
Default Efficiency
50%
Temperature of
below 500°C leads
to zero Reductions
Baseline emissions are calculated using the amount of waste that would
decay anaerobically in the absence of the project and the appropriate
emission factor. The latter should be calculated taking into account the
amount of volatile solids produced in the manure and the maximum
amount of methane able to be produced from that manure, as well as the
characteristics of the manure management system 242 .
Project Emissions
Within the project boundaries, project participants shall only consider CO 2
emissions from the use of fossil fuels or electricity to operate the facility.
AMS-III.D provides no guidelines on how to calculate these emissions.
Emission reductions
Considering the low energy consumption of this type of projects and that
leakage measurement is not required (with the exceptions mentioned below
for PoA), project emissions and leakage are typically assumed to be zero.
Hence, emissions reductions stem directly from the amount of methane
fuelled or flared (with a maximal emission reductions equal to the methane
generation potential calculated in the PDD for each specific year).
Flare efficiency: In the case of methane flaring, the flaring efficiency may be
determined by (i) the adoption of a 90% default value or (ii) the continuous
monitoring of the efficiency. If a default value is used, a continuous
monitoring process must be done to ensure compliance with manufacturer’s
specification. Any non-compliance with these specifications shall result in the
modification of the default value to 50% for all the duration of the noncompliance
period.
In the case of projects using open flares, a default value of 50% should be
used, and if at any given time the temperature of the flare is below 500ºC, a
default value equal to 0% should be used for this period.
242
For further guidance refer to 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, volume
‘Agriculture, Forestry and other Land use’, chapter ‘Emissions from Livestock and Manure Management’. http://
www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol4.htm
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