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Overview VM0052 Accelerated Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Plants Using a Just Transition, v1.1
This methodology determines net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions resulting from the accelerated retirement of grid-connected coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) paired with of new renewable electricity facilities.
Project proponents must use this methodology in conjunction with VMD0061 Just Transition Requirements for Accelerated Retirement of Coal-fired Power Plants.
Project proponents must use this methodology in conjunction with VMD0061 Just Transition Requirements for Accelerated Retirement of Coal-fired Power Plants to ensure that projects are accompanied by a comprehensive just transition plan and implementation. The just transition mitigates negative impacts of accelerated retirement of CFPPs such as loss of livelihoods of workers, their households, contractors, and communities.
VMD0061 establishes criteria and procedures related to a just transition for stakeholders directly or indirectly impacted by the accelerated retirement of a coal-fired power plant (CFPP). This module must be used by projects applying VM0052 Accelerated Retirement of Coal-fired Power Plants Using a Just Transition. The requirements for stakeholder engagement and safeguards established in the most recent version of the VCS Standard also apply for both CFPPs and paired renewable electricity power plants.
- VM0052, v1.0 will be inactivated on 1 December 2027.
- Projects that use VM0052, v1.0 may submit the following types of requests until 30 November 2027:
- Registration
- Crediting period
- Verification approval where the verification includes a methodology change through a project description deviation
- Requantification
- Projects that meet the submission deadlines above may continue to apply VM0052, v1.0 for the remainder of their crediting period. These projects must update to an active version of VM0052 at their next crediting period renewal.
- Registered projects using VM0052, v1.0 may update to VM0052, v1.1 during their crediting period using one of the following:
- Procedure to Change Project Methodology through a Project Description Deviation for future monitoring periods, or
- Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure for past and future monitoring periods and to requantifyemissionreductions from past verifications
Explore additional technical guidance, tools, templates, and supporting resources designed to help project developers strengthen quantification approaches, improve modeling accuracy, and support effective implementation of VM0052 projects.
VM0052 Resources
VM0052 Accelerated Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Plants Using a Just Transition, v1.1
Status: Active since October 30, 2026
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reductions
Summary of Changes: Updates references and definitions, expands the methodology’s applicability and pairing requirements, clarifies project and crediting period dates and crediting period renewal, and includes information about projects seeking to transition to VM0052, v1.1. It also covers revisions pertaining to additionality assessment, grid and renewable electricity leakage, parameter tables, and monitoring plan requirements. Specific changes include the following:
- Section 2 – VMR0017 replaces CDM ACM0002, and VT0010 was removed.
- Section 3 – definitions of “Paired renewable electricity” and “Accelerated retirement date” revised for clarity.
- Section 4 – expanded requirements under Applicability Condition 10; revised requirements for pairing levels and the content of the pairing plan; replaced reference to ACM006 with VMD0059.
- Section 5 – added new sections on the project start date, the start date of the first crediting period (the accelerated retirement date), crediting period renewal, and methodology transition; updated requirements for reassessment at crediting period renewal.
- Section 7 – revised direction on additionality assessment.
- Section 9 – revised treatment of leakage from the grid and from renewables.
- Section 10 – parameter tables revised for clarity and correctness; added new requirements of the monitoring plan.
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reductions
Developer(s): Verra with support from the Coal to Clean Credit Initiative (external) led by The Rockefeller Foundation (external)
Technical Contributor(s): RMI (external)
Dates of Public Consultation: March 27, 2026 to April 26, 2026
Draft Shared During Public Consultation: VM0052, v1.1 Draft (PDF)
Summary of Public Consultation: Summary of Public Consultation for VM0052, v1.1 & VMD0060 (PDF)
Independent Expert Reports: N/A – Minor Revision
Announcement(s): Consultation on Revision to Coal Plant Retirement Methodology, Verra Releases Updated Coal Plant Retirement Methodology
VM0052 Accelerated Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Plants Using a Just Transition, v1.0 (PDF)
Status: Active May 6, 2025 – November 30, 2027
Inactivation Date: 1 December 2027
Request Deadlines:
The submission deadline for the following project requests is 30 November 2027:
- Registration requests
- Verification approval requests where the verification includes one of the following:
- Baseline reassessment
- A methodology change through a project description deviation
- Crediting period renewal requests
- Requantification requests
Mitigation Outcome Label Eligibility: Reductions
Developer(s): Coal to Clean Credit Initiative (external) led by The Rockefeller Foundation (external) and supported by South Pole Carbon Asset Management Ltd. (external)
Dates of Public Consultation:
- 1st Consultation: December 4, 2023 to January 16, 2024
- 2nd Consultation: October 17, 2024 to November 20, 2024
Draft Shared During Public Consultation:
- 1st Consultation Documents: VM0052, v1.0 Draft Methodology 1 (PDF), VMD0060, v1.0 Draft Module 1 (PDF).
- 2nd Consultation Documents: VM0052, v1.0 Draft Methodology 2 (PDF), VMD0060, v1.0 Draft Module 2 (PDF).
Summary of Public Consultation: See Appendix 1 of the VVB Assessment Report
VVB Assessment Report(s): VVB Assessment Report for VM0052, v1.0 (PDF)
Announcement(s): 1st Consultation Announcement, 2nd Consultation Announcement, RFP Announcement, New Verra Methodology Supports Coal Phase-Out and Just Energy Transition
Get In Touch
If you are a current or prospective project developer seeking support to start, advance, or manage a VM0052 project, please contact Verra’s expert team at secretariat@verra.org.
For all other inquiries, including general program support, partnership opportunities, or organizational engagement, please visit our Contact Us page to connect with the appropriate Verra team.
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