Biomass in Rajasthan - Electricity generation from mustard crop residues

Audit Analysis

A CDM biomass electricity project in Rajasthan with a confirmed investment-test additionality and jurisdictional baseline, but undermined by an extensive list of data-quality findings in the monitoring report, a grid emission factor frozen at 2002 values, and a monitoring-period credit volume nearly seven times the pro-rata expectation from the PDD. The project lacks a buffer pool, free-prior-informed-consent documentation, and any stated CORSIA or CCP status, leaving meaningful gaps in permanence and market-integrity safeguards.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Monitoring-period ERR of 38,681 tCO2 is approximately 697% of the pro-rata expectation (5,552 tCO2/yr) derived from the PDD lifetime estimate of 55,524 tCO2 over 10 years, driven by a plant load factor of 91.42% versus the 75% assumed in the PDD.
• ⚠Grid emission factor of 718 gCO2/kWh is anchored to 2002 data while the monitoring period covers 2012–2013, a 10-year gap that inflates the calculated emission reductions.
• ⚠28 material findings and 24 corrective actions were raised by the VVB, including incorrect emission-reduction calculations (auxiliary power not deducted), missing monthly breakdowns, and inconsistent biomass consumption data.
• ⚠No buffer pool percentage is stated in any available document, leaving no quantified permanence safeguard for the issued credits.
• ⚠Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is not documented in the extracted record, and the grievance mechanism, while present, is not described in detail.

Credit Vintages