International projects

Fujian Zhangpu Liuao, China – wind farm Donations are currently going to this project

This project is the first one in China to be certified by both the United Nations and the Gold Standard, a coalition of 60 environmental organisations from around the world.
The project reduces carbon dioxide emissions by around 85,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to the domestic emissions from a UK town the size of Bury St Edmunds.
The project has been developed in a region with fast growing coal-dominated power generation. It will contribute to the sustainable development in the region by reducing pollution, creating employment opportunities, promoting the local tourism industry and improving the livelihoods of local people.
In order to achieve Gold Standard certification, the project was required to demonstrate clear benefits on sustainable development, including environmental and social sustainability, and economic and technological development, as well as more in-depth local consultation than is normally required by the UN.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document and the Gold Standard Validation Report

Itacoatiara, Brazil – renewable energy and forest preservation Donations are currently going to this project

Itacoatiara is a power plant that uses waste wood from sustainably managed forests as a fuel, replacing electricity generated from polluting diesel generators.
Renewable energy is generated for an area in the Amazon with a population of around 80,000.
Waste wood is used from approximately 450,000 hectares of sustainably managed and FSC-certified Amazon forest. Sustainable harvesting means that no more than 5 trees are harvested per hectare every 25 years and that low-impact logging techniques are applied in order to preserve the wildlife and to protect the forest canopy. In addition, 25% of the forest is set aside for absolute preservation and access to the forest is controlled to prevent illegal deforestation and the hunting of endangered species.
The project’s other main environmental benefit is to protect an area of forest of around 1,800 square miles – roughly three-times the size of Greater London.
Carbon emissions are reduced by around 165,000 tonnes per year. This is equivalent to the domestic energy emissions of 17,000 UK households.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document

Tejona, Costa Rica – wind farm Donations are currently going to this project

The Tejona project is located in highlands near Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s largest lake, close to the Arenal Volcano and the Monteverde cloud forest.
The project reduces emissions by producing clean electricity that would have otherwise been generated by burning polluting high-sulphur diesel fuels and bunker oil.
The project consists of 30 wind turbines that generate enough clean electricity to reduce emissions by around 12,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to the household emissions of around 2,000 UK homes.
This pioneering project, which was one of the World’s first offset projects, was designed to prove that developed and developing countries could collaborate in the fight against climate change. The project had been discussed since the 1970s but only became a reality with funding provided through the Kyoto Protocol.
In response to concerns about benefits to the local community, over 90% of the people employed during construction came from the surrounding province, and various communal works were carried out by the project including construction of schools and road repair.
The project is part of Costa Rica’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2021.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document

Malavalli, India – crop waste power plant

World's first Gold Standard project to have its CERs issued.
Generating clean, renewable electricity from crop waste such as coconut fronds and sugar cane trash.
Reducing CO2 emissions by around 20,000 tonnes per year.
Directly creating at least 500 local jobs in the power plant and in the collection of agricultural waste used by the plant as fuel.
Local farmers are now getting paid for crop waste that was previously burned or left to rot.
Directly contributing around US $1 million to the rural economy.
Waste from the power plant is environmentally beneficial as an organic fertilizer.
Supplies reliable electricity for around 10,000 people in 47 villages.
Reliable electricity further stimulates local economic activity.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document

Shimenping, China – run-of-river hydropower station

The Gansu Zhouqu Shimenping Hydropower Station is located in Zhouqu County in North West China. The local population of Zhouqu County lives in extreme poverty and the county is designated as a national poverty county.
Shimenping is a “run-of-river” power station. Instead of building a large dam which would flood valuable agricultural land and disturb wildlife, the project uses the natural flow of the river to generate environmentally sound electricity.
A small amount of flood prone land will be lost due to the project; protection barriers will also be constructed to protect against landslides and flooding, creating an additional 100,000 square metres of protected farmland.
Previously cut off for much of the flood season, a road has now been built into Shimenping village, thus improving access to education and healthcare for the local community.
The project also provides employment in this remote part of China.
The project reduces emissions by avoiding the need for electricity from coal-fired power plants. Annual reductions are expected to be around 67,000 tonnes, equivalent to the domestic energy emissions (i.e. gas and electricity) of around 7,000 UK homes.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document

CAMIL Itaqui, Brazil – renewable energy from rice husks

The CAMIL Itaqui biomass electricity generation project is located at a rice mill in Brazil. It uses rice husks to generate electricity.
Before the project began, 81% of the mill waste was disposed of through landfill. Today, 93% of the waste is burned to generate renewable energy, displacing the use of polluting diesel fuel. As well as powering the mill, the project also provides renewable power to its neighbours.
The project also avoids emissions of methane, a highly damaging greenhouse gas that causes climate change. By reducing the amount of rice husks rotting in a landfill, this project prevents those emissions.
The project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by around 57,000 tonnes per year, which is enough to offset the domestic emissions of around 6,000 UK households.
According to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, biomass energy projects – including those that use agricultural waste, could provide the UK with up to 10-15% of its total energy supply, which would make a major contribution to helping the UK reach its target of reducing emissions by 50% by 2050.
Other benefits include increased employment in the area where the plant is located.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document

Ningxia Tianjing Shenzhou, China - wind farm

This wind farm is located in a relatively poor region of China – a dry, desert-like area with a growing economy.
Coal is cheap and plentiful in this area, and without the revenue from the sale of carbon credits, the wind farm would not be price competitive with electricity from polluting coal-fired stations.
The project, which started operating in 2004, consists of 36 wind turbines which generate 70.38 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, reducing carbon emissions by around 50,000 tonnes per year – equivalent to around 5,000 UK households.
The wind turbines use “variable pitch” to automatically adjust themselves depending on wind speed.
As well as reducing carbon emissions, the project also avoids other forms of air pollution. It is estimated that the wind farm prevents emissions of 170 tonnes of sulphur dioxide (which causes acid rain) each year and around 280 tonnes of NOx (which causes smog and respiratory disease).
One of the additional benefits of the project is the stimulation of the growth of the wind power industry in Ningxia. Local engineers and technicians receive invaluable training through the implementation of the project.
The project also benefits local tourism by providing electricity to the famous historical site, Xi Xia Emperor’s Tomb.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document

Aleo Manali, India – small hydropower plant

The Aleo Manali project generates renewable energy through a small hydropower plant, sited in Northern India in the foothills of the Himalayas, at an elevation of around 10,000 feet (3,000 metres).
By using water, which is a clean source of electricity, instead of polluting fuels such as coal and diesel, the project reduces emissions by around 23,000 tonnes per year. This is equivalent to the emissions from 2,300 average UK households.
The plant was designed to have a minimal impact on its surrounding environment. The project caused no flooding of forest and farmland and not a single tree was felled during its construction. The company has also obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification of its environmental management system.
As a small-scale project, Aleo Manali faced several significant technical and financial barriers which registration in the Clean Development Mechanism helped to overcome.
The project owners have made a considerable investment in a rural area, as well as creating local jobs in the construction and operation of the plant.
Aleo Manali has contributed to the local community by providing solar lights, repairing a local irrigation channel and sponsoring local community events.

Fuller details can be seen within the Project Design Document