Advanced Refrigeration - ARS2020003

Audit Analysis

This ACR-registered advanced refrigeration project (replacing R-449A with a lower-GWP refrigerant across US retail stores) has VVB-confirmed additionality via a combined test and a well-defined methodology (v2.1). However, the verification report identified four material findings—including a sign error in baseline emissions—and the leakage treatment is inconsistent between the PDD (deemed negligible) and the validation report (not addressed). The project-specific baseline and the absence of several MRV parameters limit confidence in the 257,840 tCO₂e claim.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠The verification report (2023) flagged that project emissions of R-449A were incorrectly represented as negative baseline emissions, a calculation error that could distort the net reduction figure
• ⚠Leakage treatment is contradictory: the PDD states leakage is 'deemed negligible' while the validation report records it as 'not addressed', leaving the justification unconfirmed by the VVB
• ⚠All three ERR figures (claimed, verified, ex-ante lifetime) are identical at 257,840 tCO₂e, which is plausible for a one-time refrigerant swap but warrants confirmation that the full reduction was indeed realized within the 11-month monitoring period

Credit Vintages Exhausted