Dongyuan Xiantang Landfill Gas Power Generation Phase I Project

Audit Analysis

A VCS landfill gas power generation project in China with a VVB-confirmed combined additionality test and measured baseline, but undermined by multiple material calculation errors (incorrect BEEC/PEEC equations, outdated grid emission factor, wrong FCH4,BL,y case) that required corrective action. The verified emission reduction (56,564 tCO2e) is substantially below the pro-rata ex-ante expectation (~125,900 tCO2e for the 13-month monitoring period), indicating conservative crediting but also questions about the robustness of the original ex-ante estimate. The legally required capture of landfill gas in China weakens the additionality claim despite VVB confirmation.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Seven material findings in the verification report, including incorrect BEEC,y and PEEC,y equations not aligned with CDM TOOL05, use of outdated 2015-2017 grid emission factor data instead of the 2019 factor, and incorrect FCH4,BL,y case determination (case 1 instead of case 2)
• ⚠Capture of landfill gas is legally required in China per the verification report, which fundamentally undermines the additionality claim even though the VVB confirmed a combined test
• ⚠Verified emission reduction (56,564 tCO2e) is only ~45% of the pro-rata ex-ante expectation (~125,900 tCO2e) for the 13-month monitoring period, suggesting the lifetime ex-ante estimate of 697,121 tCO2e may be significantly overstated
• ⚠Gas capture legally mandated — additionality in doubt

Credit Vintages