Biochar Project-1 by WeAct

Audit Analysis

This VCS biochar project in India has a VVB-confirmed additionality assessment and matching claimed/verified ERR figures for the 2023–2025 monitoring period, but is undermined by a 4.7× discrepancy in the ex-ante lifetime ERR between the verification report and monitoring report, a 0% leakage deduction with contradictory justifications, and an extensive list of 23 corrective action requests that signal weak initial documentation. The 100-year permanence claim lacks a stated buffer pool, and key MRV parameters (FNRB method, usage monitoring) are absent from the record.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Ex-ante lifetime ERR differs by a factor of ~4.7 between the verification report (44,589 tCO₂e) and the monitoring report (208,082 tCO₂e), raising serious data-reliability concerns
• ⚠23 corrective action requests and 4 clarification requests were raised during verification, indicating substantial initial non-compliance with VCS MR Template v4.4
• ⚠Leakage justification is contradictory: the verification report states 'deemed negligible' while the monitoring report states 'quantified', yet the deduction is 0% in both
• ⚠100-year permanence claim with no buffer pool percentage stated in any available document
• ⚠End-use tracking is described as 'documented' in the verification report but 'not addressed' in the monitoring report

Credit Vintages