5 MW Chirchind Grid-Connected SHP in Himachal Pradesh, India

Audit Analysis

A 5 MW grid-connected small hydro project in Himachal Pradesh with a VVB-confirmed investment additionality test and a reasonable zero-leakage justification, but undermined by three material findings (including a missing baseline validity demonstration), a baseline-method contradiction between the validation and monitoring reports, and a verified ERR figure that appears to exceed the theoretical maximum generation for the stated plant capacity over the stated monitoring period. Several key data points (FNRB, usage monitoring, CORSIA/CCP status) are absent from the extracted record.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Verified ERR of 19,283 tCO2e for the 2018-03-18 to 2018-06-28 monitoring period implies ~20,800 MWh, which exceeds the theoretical maximum of ~12,240 MWh for a 5 MW plant over 102 days — a 70% physical impossibility that raises serious over-crediting concerns
• ⚠Three material findings in the monitoring report: missing applicability-criterion justification, missing demonstration of original baseline validity, and monitoring parameters for grid export and diesel consumption not aligned with AMS-I.D v18.0
• ⚠Baseline method is contradictory: the validation report (2018) states a jurisdictional baseline while the monitoring report (2022) states a project-specific baseline
• ⚠FNRB value, usage monitoring method, CORSIA eligibility, and CCP status are all not stated in the available documents

Credit Vintages