9 MW Neria Hydroelectric project, Karnataka, India

Audit Analysis

The 9 MW Neria hydro project is a CDM-registered small hydro scheme with VVB-confirmed additionality and no inherent reversal risk, but it carries significant documentation gaps, a contradictory ERR figure within the same monitoring report, and multiple unresolved material findings that undermine confidence in the credit quantity and monitoring rigour.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠The monitoring report (Dec 2021) contains two different total ERR figures — 39,260 and 85,000 — within the same document, creating a 2.2× discrepancy that cannot be resolved without the verified ERR figure
• ⚠The validation report (2008) characterises the baseline as jurisdictional while the monitoring report (2021) calls it project-specific, and the grid emission factor of 857 gCO₂/kWh is drawn from the 2005-06 assessment year, making the baseline potentially stale
• ⚠Multiple material findings remain: the registered PDD listed two energy meters but the site visit confirmed four; calibration frequency was absent from the PDD; and the monitoring plan lacked clear measurement procedures for key parameters
• ⚠Corrective action CL 1 requires the proponent to supply a detailed IRR analysis, geology study data, and a copy of the PPA to substantiate additionality — evidence that the original additionality case was incomplete at verification

Credit Vintages