Electricity generation from mustard crop residues: Tonk, India

Audit Analysis

A CDM biomass energy project in Tonk, India generating electricity from mustard crop residues, verified by TÜV SÜD South Asia. The project has a combined additionality test and smart-meter monitoring, but suffers from a thin leakage justification (0% 'deemed negligible'), an outdated 2014 grid emission factor applied to 2020 monitoring, and multiple material findings and corrective actions that raise questions about the robustness of the monitoring plan and PDD quality.

Project Description

Red Flags

• ⚠Grid emission factor of 0.959 tCO2/MWh is from 2014, applied to a 2020 monitoring period; India's grid has become significantly cleaner since then, potentially overstating reductions
• ⚠Leakage deduction of 0% justified only as 'deemed negligible' without quantified analysis, despite crop residues having alternative uses (fuel, feed, soil amendment)
• ⚠Ten material findings and corrective actions logged, including the need to clarify why the second crediting period shows higher ER amounts and to add a cross-check of biomass consumption via energy balance
• ⚠Additionality test type is 'combined' but VVB confirmation of the additionality assessment is not stated in the extracted record

Credit Vintages