Verra has released a revised version (v1.2) of VMR0006 Energy Efficiency and Fuel Switch Measures in Thermal Applications in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. Following a public consultation earlier this year, the following changes were implemented to strengthen the integrity of the methodology:
- Alignment with the underlying CDM methodology AMS-II.G.: Energy efficiency measures in thermal applications of non-renewable biomass, which included updating some default values and references to specific sections of the CDM methodology
- Updates to the following default values:
- Baseline device efficiency
- Average annual consumption of woody biomass
- Wood-to-charcoal conversion factor
- Non-CO2 emission factor for wood fuel
- Introduction of two options to address the uncertainty of the fraction of non-renewable biomass (fNRB):
- Using default value of 30% from CDM TOOL33
- Applying discount factor if fNRB is calculated using CDM TOOL30
- Inclusion of further provisions for fuel switch projects using renewable biomass, such as applicability conditions, monitoring requirements, and accounting procedures for project emissions and leakage
Effective immediately, AMS-G.II. is excluded from the VCS Program as a standalone methodology. Projects that have requested listing on the Verra Registry before July 6, 2023, must complete validation using AMS-II.G. until January 5, 2024. New projects must request project listing using VMR0006 v1.2.
Early next year, Verra expects to replace VMR0006 Energy Efficiency and Fuel Switch Measures in Thermal Applications, v1.2 with the comprehensive VCS Consolidated Methodology for Improved Thermal Energy Generation Units currently under development. Projects using VMR0006 v1.2 or previous versions may change to the new methodology once it is published.