Carbon Offset Projects

Power and heat from biomass in Karnataka, India

This project is the first of its kind in India. Technical innovations have made it possible to use biomass with a low calorific value as a useful fuel. This has led to a revolution in a poor and sparsely developed region of India, as biomass, until now burned in the fields as waste, has suddenly become valuable and is thus raising the income of the local farmers.

Through development of this biomass power plant, in the south-Indian state of Karnataka, brings various advantages for the local population: the project is creating 650 jobs in the region and farmers are also receiving an income from supplying the power plant with agricultural waste. From an ecological standpoint, the project reduces the uncontrolled burning of agricultural waste and thus prevents harmful emissions and the pollution of groundwater. After the waste has been incinerated in the power plant, the ash is given to the local farmers to use as organic fertiliser. In April 2007 this project was the first CDM project in the world to generate Certified Emissions Reductions certificates recognised by the Gold Standard.

Hydropower in rural Indonesia

This project is located in the west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra and involves supporting the renovation of an obsolete hydropower plant which has the potential to supply a rural region of Indonesia with electricity from renewable energy.

The current hydropower plant has a power output of 75 kW. But once restored could generate around 1 MW and reduces around 4,500 tons of CO2 annually.

As well as the contribution to climate protection, the project brings economical, social and ecological improvements to the region. Power cuts due to inadequate capacity are extremely common in rural Indonesia. This project allows the local population to benefit from a more stable grid – a vital requirement for the local economy. The construction and operation of the facility also creates new employment opportunities, while the environment benefits from the substitution of diesel-based energy. There is no additional impact on the environment, as the power plant is built upon existing infrastructure. The project is currently being validated by the Gold Standard and generates VERs.