Applications invited for Accredited Carbon Verification (ACV) Agencies

 

The Central Government has established the framework for Indian Carbon Market (ICM) through the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023.The clause (9) of the scheme states that Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Bureau) in its capacity as administrator shall publish the procedure including eligibility criteria for accreditation of any agency to function as an ACV agency.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is inviting applications from agencies interested in becoming Accredited Carbon Verification (ACV) Agencies for the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme of the Indian Carbon Market. The scheme defines two mechanism – Compliance and Offset Mechanism, where under the compliance mechanism of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) the verification of GHG emissions and GHG emissions intensity of the obligated entity during the compliance years is to be undertaken by an ACV agency as per the detailed procedure for compliance mechani m. 2.3. Where, under the offset mechanism, the validation and/or verification of the project activity by the non-obligated entity for registration of the projects and subsequent issuance of the carbon credit certificates is to be undertaken by an ACV agency as per the detailed procedure for offset mechanism.

Eligibility-An ACV agency shall have minimum one full time team lead/lead verifier (meeting the criteria in section 4.4) on the company’s pay rolls for each mechanism.  An ACV agency shall have minimum two full time team members as verifiers for each mechanism, they have applied for. The lead verifier must have the following certifications: a. Accredited Energy Auditor by the Bureau and b. Lead Verifier certification for ISO 14064 1/2/3 Competency Requirements: The lead verifier shall meet the competence requirements for verifiers (as per section 5.6 of this document) and shall have demonstrated competence to lead a verification team and carry out verification activities.The team members of the ACV agency shall have the following competencies: a) Ability to apply generic verification concepts (evidence gathering, risk management, auditing techniques, application of the level of assurance). b) Knowledge and experience of energy and GHG accounting and management techniques, GHG emission sources and associated technologies, development and auditing of GHG emission factors and calculation methodologies including energy / non-energy (process) GHG emissions where applicable, statistical uncertainty analysis of GHG emission calculations and technical expertise related to monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions. c) Knowledge of relevant rules, regulations and procedures including the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, Environment Protection Act, 1986 and Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023. d) Other business skills such as communication, analytical, statistical, and financial aspects. e) Collection of information through effective interviewing, listening, observing, and reviewing documents, records, and data. f) Knowledge on data, information, and system auditing techniques and methodologies. g) Risk assessment techniques and methodologies. h) Data and information sampling techniques and methodologies.

Link-https://beeindia.gov.in/application-form-accredited-carbon-verification-acv-agencies.php

Verified agricultural carbon credits.

Carbon farming practice is now a reality. indigo is one the service providers: https://www.indigoag.com/for-growers/indigo-carbon

Indigi AG announced first corporate carbon credit buyers. Each credit is priced at $20 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent sequestered in the 2020 growing season. To generate credits, Indigo is implementing what it describes as two novel methods for measuring and verifying the net on-farm GHG emissions impact of management practice changes. 

https://agfundernews.com/carbon-harvest-indigo-ag-nori-announce-first-corporate-carbon-credit-buyers.html?

US Department of Agriculture runs COMET-Farm tool which estimates the ‘carbon footprint’ for all or part of your farm/ranch operation and allows you to evaluate different options, which you select, for reducing GHG emissions and sequestering more carbon. General guidance is provided about potential changes to your management practices that are likely to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

In India, Saguna Rural Foundation,  provides technical support to farmers, collect soil samples, and distribute the carbon checks at year’s end based on increases in soil carbon. The verification and validation of the soil increases would be conducted independently by Zenith Energy Climate Foundation, Hyderabad. The team launched one project in 2019 in Maharashtra.

Niti Aayog estimated carbon credit market as 50-60 billion