Verra has approved the first carbon credits under a digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (DMRV) pilot initiative for high-frequency issuances (e.g., monthly, bi-monthly).

The initial credits under this pilot were generated by the Foumbouni-Mitsamiouli solar farm project (Verra Project 3788) on the island of Grande Comore in the Comoros. The project, developed and operated by Aera Group, uses the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology AMS I.-D.: Grid Connected Renewable Electricity Generation and delivers clean electricity to communities that have not had reliable access to power. SustainCERT acted as the validation/verification body (VVB) for the project, conducting an entirely digital verification of the monitoring data submitted by Aera Group.

Piloting a DMRV-based high-frequency issuance process is part of Verra’s efforts to fully digitize the Verra project cycle, enhancing efficiency, speed, reliability, and transparency. The Verra Project Hub, Verra’s comprehensive online platform for creating and managing projects in Verra’s standards programs, enables the digital submission of monitoring data that directly informs the quantification of net reductions and removals, as well as the corresponding verification reports. This process is enabled by the digitalization of monitoring and verification, as well as the direct import/transfer of data about each project’s climate benefits (in this case related to electricity generation) into the Verra Project Hub.

The successful completion of this pilot will enable Verra to roll out the approach more broadly, resulting in more projects benefiting from a seamless and efficient issuance process, improved quality of data and calculations, reduced administrative processes, and enhanced transparency of project information. This greatly benefits project proponents, VVBs, and credit buyers.

If a DMRV-based verification approval request for a high-frequency issuance installment is approved, the project proponent may request 80% of the approved credits. Verra will withhold 20% as a safeguards measure during the pilot process. After one year of high-frequency DMRV issuances, the project proponent must conduct a full verification that covers additional parameters such as safeguards or stakeholder engagement. If Verra approves a non-DMRV-based verification approval request, the proponent can request the remaining credits to be issued.

Verra is currently piloting the DMRV-based process for high-frequency issuances for other projects, including for carbon capture and storage (CCS) activities and clean cookstoves.

Interested in Joining the Pilot?

If you are interested in participating in the DMRV pilot for high-frequency issuances, please email DMRV@verra.org. Please note that to join the pilot, projects must use a methodology that is available in digital form in the Verra Project Hub. Project proponents must develop and document a digital measurement and reporting system for all monitoring parameters that form the calculation of reductions and removals.