China - village of Yancun, on the Guanliao river, in the Sichuan region (coordinates: 29°11’37’’ N, 103°08’55’’ E).
Project type:
Carbon offset – Renewable energy.
Development methodology:
ACM 0002/version 06, “Consolidated baseline methodology for grid connected electricity generation from renewable sources“, published by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
First operational: 01/01/2004
Validation:
Auditor: TÜV Nord CERT, 30/06/2007.
Vérification :
Auditor: TÜV Nord CERT, 19/09/2008.
Background:
China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal. In spite of its atmospheric pollution and diseases that derive therefrom, coal still covers nearly 70% of its energy needs. With an economic growth of over 10% in 2007 and a growing population, demand will keep increasing. Hence, it is vital to diversify energy production sources. An alternative to the use of fossil fuels is the building of hydroelectric power plants, which use water’s renewable energy to operate.
Description:
The project consists in the construction of a so-called “run-of-river” power plant. The plant, which has been operating quite normally in spite of the earthquake that struck the Sichuan region on May 12th, 2008, has been providing renewable energy and has replaced the region’s usual coal-fired power plants. It has been delivering electricity to the whole region. The project has significantly reduced CO2, SOx and NOx emissions. It has boosted the region’s economic activity by generating sustainable jobs in plant maintenance, and by enabling investments in relation to its construction, which would not have occurred without such a project. No population was displaced. As opposed to hydraulic fill dams, the plant got entirely integrated into the existing environment and neither required pondage nor induced any inundation.
Technology:
The “run-of-river” technology allows installing infrastructures on a portion of water course, without having to divert them or to create dams or pondages. The project implies the construction of a 3X22 MW hydroelectric power plant.
Carbon credit type: VER
Standard: VCS
Project benefits:
Environmental benefits:
Fight against global warming by using clean and renewable energy.
Promotion of clean energy in the region.
Reduction of atmospheric pollution and of environmental problems resulting thereof.
The plant got integrated into the existing environment and neither required pondage nor induced any inundation.
Economic and social benefits:
Creation of sustainable jobs in plant maintenance and of new sources of income in the region.
Construction of roads.
Consolidation of river banks.
Preservation of local communities: no population displacement was required.
EcoAct Guaranties:
Carbon credits registry: Caisse des Depots
EcoAct is entitled to audit the project at any time.
The project bearer has subscribed for liability insurance
EcoAct works on this project in collaboration with the South Pole company, based in Zürich.
EcoAct has a recognized expertise of this kind of projects (“run-of-river” hydraulic power plants).
