Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)-VM0050

VM0050 consolidates elements of several existing cookstove methodologies (such as VMR0006 Energy Efficiency and Fuel Switch Measures in Thermal Applications, v1.2, VMR0011 Switch from Non-Renewable Biomass For Thermal Applications by the User, v1.0, 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) and features several updates that strengthen it, including the following:

• Innovative monitoring approaches such as direct measurement techniques (e.g., stove use monitors, fuel weight sensors, electricity meters) that enhance reliability and accuracy in determining project fuel/energy consumption and stove use
• Updated approaches to determining the fraction of non-renewable biomass (fNRB)
• Updated default values for ex ante parameters, including baseline device efficiency and the wood-to-charcoal conversion factor
• Alignment with best practices (particularly related to monitoring and measurement) prescribed in the Comprehensive Lowered Emissions Assessment and Reporting (CLEAR) methodology developed by the Clean Cooking and Climate Consortium (4C)

Verra is committed to regularly updating VM0050.

To requantify Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) (for past verification periods) that were previously issued under a methodology other than VM0050, the project proponent must follow the Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure (PDF). This process allows project proponents to update the methodology they are using (in this case, to VM0050) and requantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from past verification periods in accordance with that methodology.

To requantify previously issued VCUs, the following eligibility criteria must be met:

The project must meet all applicability conditions of VM0050.

• The project must have all data required to apply VM0050.
• The verification periods for which the project intends to requantify issued credits must be consecutive.
• There are active VCUs on the Verra Registry for the period(s) being requantified.

The requantification procedure includes the following key steps:

1. Notification to Verra:
   • Notify Verra of the intent to transition to VM0050 and requantify previously issued VCUs by submitting a Requantification Notification Form (DOC) using the digital form available on the Verra Project Hub. Project proponents must submit this form upon the start of activities with their contracted validation/verification body (VVB).
2. Document Preparation and Validation:
   • Key sections of the project description must be updated to comply with VM0050, including the sections pertaining to additionality, the baseline scenario, the monitoring plan, and data parameters.
   • VVB must validate the revised project description and verify a VCS Requantification Report for the requantified GHG emission reductions.
3. Submission:
   • The updated documentation (including ex ante/ex post spreadsheets and verification reports) must be submitted to Verra for review and approval.
4. Verra Review:
   • Verra assesses the requantification request as per section 4.3 of the Registration and Issuance Process.
5. Reconciliation of VCUs:
   • Upon approval, VCUs held by the project proponent can be reconciled. If the project meets all necessary requirements, the VCUs may receive market labels (e.g., CCP).

Note: Retired VCUs are not eligible for reconciliation.

Transitioning from an old methodology to VM0050 for current and future monitoring periods requires applying a project description deviation, as outlined in the Procedure to Change Methodology through a Project Description Deviation (PDF).

The procedure includes the following key steps:

Apply the New Methodology (VM0050):

• • The project must comply with all requirements of VM0050. This includes the baseline scenario, demonstration of additionality, and all other project design elements.
  • The project must have all the data required to apply VM0050

Note: A methodology deviation cannot be used to circumvent the need for required data under the new methodology.

Update Project Documentation:

• • Prepare a revised project description using the latest version of the VCS Project Description Template.
  • Update ex ante GHG emission reduction calculations in line with the new methodology (VM0050).
  • Justify and describe the project description deviation in the monitoring report.

Assessment by a Validation/Verification Body (VVB):

• • A VVB will assess the project description deviation during the verification process as outlined in the VCS Standard and provide their assessment and conclusion in the verification report. The VVB must review project eligibility, baseline scenario, additionality, project boundaries, monitoring plan, and other methodology-related elements.

The following are the timelines and related considerations when a project seeks to transition to VM0050:

As of October 9, 2024, VM0050 has replaced VMR0006 and VMR0011.

Projects seeking registration under VMR0006, v1.2 must have requested listing before October 9, 2024, and completed validation by May 31, 2025.

Starting with the 2027 vintage year, all projects in the VCS Program must use VM0050. The updated project description may be validated and submitted together with monitoring and verification reports for that vintage, even if submitted up to five years after the last verification.

Projects registered in the VCS Program under AMS I.E. or VMR0011 may update to VM0050 for past monitoring and verification reports and requantify GHG emission reductions in accordance with VM0050 per the Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure (PDF).

Yes, the methodology has been approved by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) (external) as meeting the criteria of its Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) Assessment Framework, marking a major milestone for clean cooking projects and the voluntary carbon market (VCM). See the approval decision document (external).

Per the ICVCM decision (external), projects using VM0050, v1.0 will have to conform with the following additional criteria to be eligible for CCP labels:

1. The fNRB value must meet one of the following criteria:
   • The fNRB value must be from the latest version of CDM Tool 33 for emission reductions achieved on or before December 31, 2025.
   • the fNRB value must be drawn from the MoFuSS model.
2. Fuel consumption must meet one of the following criteria:
   • Fuel consumption must be determined using a Kitchen Performance Test (KPT) or Controlled Cooking Test (CCT).
   • Fuel consumption must be determined using the methodology’s default values with cross-checks on fuel savings.
3. Charcoal projects must meet the following criteria:
   • Projects must use a direct charcoal emission factor (which may include production emissions), or projects must use a wood-to-charcoal conversion factor of 4:1.

Please refer to the methodology page here for more details.

To apply for CCP labels for the credits they generate, projects using VM0050 must follow the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCP) Label Guidance is available on the VCS Rules and Requirements page (under “Guidance”).

All projects using VM0050 that intend to request CCP labels at issuance must complete a VM0050 CCP Eligibility Verification Report Checklist Template (.docx) and attach it as an appendix to the project’s verification report. These criteria are checked at the verification review by a validation/verification body (VVB) and Verra.