Emission Reduction Credits

Emission Reduction Credits (ERC) is a credit granted upon request by an emission source who voluntarily reduces emissions beyond required levels of control. An Emission Reduction Credit represents the legal ability to emit regulated pollutants in an amount equal to the quantity specified when the Emission Reduction Credit was granted.

Emission Reduction Credits may be sold, leased, banked for future use, or traded in accordance with applicable regulations established by SWCAA.

Emission Reduction Credits are intended to provide an incentive for reducing emissions below required levels, and to establish a framework to promote a market based approach to air pollution control.

In contrast, Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs) are used for Joint Implementation (JI) under Article 6 of the Protocol. According to Article 12, Certified Emission Reduction s must be "certified by operational entities to be designated by the Conference of the Parties (COP) serving as the Meeting of the Parties (MOP)”.

WE PROVIDE CAP AND TRADE AND CARBON EMISSIONS
TRADING & CONSULTING SERVICES, INCLUDING:

Assigned Amount Units
Cap and Trade
Carbon Credits
Carbon Dioxide Credits
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Carbon Emissions
Carbon Offset Projects
Carbon Trading
Clean Development Mechanism
Emission Abatement
Emission Reduction Units
Emissions Trading
European Emissions Trading
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading
Kyoto Protocol Compliant Solutions
Nitrogen Oxides
Renewable Energy Credits
Renewable Energy Project Development
Sulfur Dioxide
Verified Emission Reductions

For project consulting or more information, call:
Tel. (832)1 7587 - 00274

What is an Assigned Amount (AA)?

The quantity of greenhouse gases that an Annex I country can release in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, during the first commitment period of that protocol (2008-12).

What is an Assigned Amount Unit (AAU)?

What are Certified Emission Reductions (CERs)?

According to the Kyoto Protocol, a Kyoto Protocol unit equal to 1 metric tonne of CO 2 equivalent. A CER is issued for emission reductions from CDM project activities. Two special types of CERs called temporary certified emission reduction (tCERs) and long-term certified emission reductions (lCERs) are issued for emission removals from forestation and reforestation CDM projects.

What is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)?

The Clean Development Mechanism is provided by Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, designed to assist developing countries in achieving sustainable development by permitting industrialized countries to finance projects for reducing greenhouse gas emission in developing countries and receive credit for doing so.

An Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement is a binding purchase agreement signed between buyer (of CERs or ERUs) and seller.

What are Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs)?

Emission Reduction Credits are achieved through a Joint Implementation project. Emission Reduction Credits are equal to one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.

What are Emissions Reductions (ERs)?

Emissions reductions generated by a project that have not undergone a validation/verification process, but are contracted for purchase.

Emissions Trading allows for the transfer of AAUs across international borders or emission allowances between companies covered by a Cap and Trade program. However, it is a general term often used for the three Kyoto mechanisms: JI, CDM and emissions trading.

What is the Emissions Trading Scheme?

The ETS is the largest multi-national, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world and is a main pillar of EU climate policy.

What is an ERC?

Emission Reduction Credits

What is the EU ETS?

European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

What is an EUA?

European Union Allowance.

What is an European Union Allowances (EUA)?

Materialization of the EU ETS quotas, the tradable unit under the EU ETS. One EUA represents the right to emit 1 ton of CO2.

What is the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)

Trading Scheme within the European Union. The first compliance phase is from 2005 to 2007, while the second compliance phase continues from 2008 to 2012.

What is a Renewable Energy Certificate?

Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) - each REC represents the equivalent of one megawatt hour of electricity generation from an accredited renewable energy source.

One (1) Verified Emission Reduction corresponds to one metric tone of CO2 equivalent.

What is the Voluntary Market?

The Voluntary market is precisely that, a "voluntary" market for emissions reductions for buyers and sellers of Verified Emission Reduction (VERs), which seek to manage their emission exposure for non-regulatory purposes.

The carbon clock tracks total carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons since 1750.

Since 1750, humans have emitted over 5 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Roughly half of this has ended up in the oceans where it is beginning to damage the coral reefs. The other half is still in the atmosphere and causing global warming. Each pound of CO2 takes up as much space as a 500 pound person.

The formula (which should be good for a year or two) is:
C(t) = 2.58 ×1012 + 1240×t, where t is seconds since the start of 2007.

C is tonnes (metric tons) of carbon dioxide emissions.
2205 x C gives pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

That comes to over 43 billion tons/year or over 86 trillion pounds/year.

Carbon dioxide (2) = 1 carbon atom with 2 oxygen atoms.
Carbon has relative weight 12 and Oxygen 16.
So it takes only 12 pounds of carbon to make 12+16+16 = 44 pounds of CO2.

Biomethane - The Best of All Renewable Fuels!

BIOMETHANE FACTS

1. Biomethane is One of the Most Common and Harmful of All Greenhouse Gas
     Emissions.

2. Biomethane is 21 Times More Harmful to the Climate than Carbon Dioxide Emissions.
     Stated another way, Biomethane Causes Global Warming and Climate Change to
     Increase 21 Times Faster than Carbon Dioxide Emissions.

3. Biomethane Is A "Renewable Natural Gas."

4. Biomethane is One of the Easiest and Most Profitable of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions
     to Recover and Control.

Anaerobic Digesters - Best Renewable Energy Technology

California and Sweden Sign Agreement to Jointly Develop Biomethane and Other Renewable Fuels

Thursday, 29 June 2006
Sacramento, California USA and Sweden

In a ceremony held at the Ministry of the Environment in Stockholm, representatives of the Kingdom of Sweden and the State of California signed an agreement pledging the two governments and their related industries to work together to develop bioenergy, with a particular emphasis on Biomethane.

“Through a strong working relationship between its industry and government, Sweden is showing how bioenergy can be developed in a cost-effective manner that benefits its economy and environment. We are extremely pleased to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide a basis for intensified collaboration between Swedish and California officials to develop a thriving bioenergy industry in California,” said Joe Desmond, Undersecretary for the California Resources Agency.

In particular, Sweden has been a global leader in terms of converting biowaste, largely agricultural material and residues, into usable Biomethane. This gas is then used to either generate electricity, residential heating, or as a transportation fuel.

More than 8,000 vehicles in Sweden are powered by a combination of natural gas and Biomethane. The vehicles include transit buses, refuse trucks, and more than 10 different models of passenger cars. There are more than 25 Biomethane production facilities in Sweden and 65 filling stations. The Swedish Biomethane industry has been growing at an annual rate of about 20 percent over the last five years.

According to the Swedish Gas Association, more than 50 percent of the methane used to power Sweden’s natural gas vehicles now comes from biological sources, up from 45% last year. Natural gas vehicle sales in Sweden are increasing at the rate of 25% per annum.

Sweden was motivated to develop its Biomethane industry because it has no natural gas reserves, to more efficiently manage its waste, and to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Accord. Since Biomethane is developed from methane sources that would normally release into the atmosphere, it’s considered one of the most climate friendly fuels. Methane (and Biomethane) is 21 times more reactive as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2). Sweden is currently meetings its objectives and schedule as outlined in the Kyoto accord.

Biomethane is developed by heating up and breaking down biomaterials in an (Anaerobic Digesters) digester. Among other raw materials, Swedish operators feed their Anaerobic Digesters with slaughterhouse waste, swine manure, and even grassy crops. After the materials breakdown over a 20 day period, technology is then used to remove the impurities and produce Biomethane. Once cleaned-up, Biomethane is 98 percent methane and easily meets the Swedish and California pipeline standards.

The Memorandum of Understanding can be accessed on the California Resources Agency Web site: http://resources.ca.gov/press_documents/CaliforniaSwedenBiofuelsMOU.pdf

With Over 27 Years Experience in Anaerobic Digester Design, Engineering and Operations, We are now Building the World's best Anaerobic Digesters.

Anaerobic Digesters recover valuable and toxic Biomethane from organic materials and prevents the Biomethane - which has a Global Warming Potential that is 21 times more harmful to our climate than Carbon Dioxide Emissions - from entering the atmosphere.

Biomethane, which we also refer to as "Renewable Natural Gas" is used as a renewable fuel for our cogeneration and trigeneration power plants. Alternatively, we may sell the Biomethane to a customer and transport it to them from our Anaerobic Digesters via natural gas pipelines.

We believe Anaerobic Digesters and Biomethane represent exciting opportunities for generating renewable natural gas and profits - for multiple reasons:

1. Anaerobic Digesters take an existing liability and waste (Biomethane) and convert it into an asset and " profit generator."

2. Anaerobic Digesters mitigate and reverse climate change and global warming by preventing Biomethane to escape into the atmosphere, which is one of the major causes of climate change and global warming.

Of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Biomethane is 21 times more harmful to the environment than Carbon Dioxide Emissions.

3. Anaerobic Digesters are vital for renewable energy production and helping our country's drive for energy independence.

4. EVERY wastewater treatment plant as well as ALL Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's) - IN EVERY COUNTRY - will soon be installing Anaerobic Digesters to prevent Biomethane from entering the atmosphere and help reverse climate change as well as for use as a renewable fuel.

5. The country of Sweden is the global leader in Biomethane production. Sweden has identified the Biomethane opportunities and is converting biowaste derived from agricultural material and residues into usable Biomethane. The Biomethane is used to generate clean, renewable electricity, residential heating, and also as a transportation fuel. Biomass sources make up 45% of Sweden’s Biomethane. Sweden's Biomethane industry has been growing at an annual rate of around 20% over the last five years. Biomethane powers more than 8,000 transit buses, garbage trucks, and 10 different models of passenger cars in Sweden. Sweden now has more than 25 Biomethane production facilities and 65 filling stations. The country believes that since Biomethane is developed from natural, organic sources that would have been released into the atmosphere, that Biomethane is considered one of the most climate-friendly fuels. Biomethane is 98% methane and easily meets the Swedish and California pipeline standards.

For More Information About Carbon Credits, Carbon Emissions,
Carbon Trading, Cap and Trade, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading, Environmental Credits - Consulting, Engineering or
Carbon Offset Project Development Services,

Tel. (832)1 7587 - 00274

The Renewable Energy Institute is "Changing The Way The World Does Energy by Providing Research & Development, Funding and Resources That Create Pollution Free Power, Carbon Free Energy & Renewable Energy Technologies"