With over 15 years of experience validating and verifying offset projects across a wide variety of sectors, RCE has the technical knowledge to understand all components that comprise offset methodologies and protocols. Our on the ground experience implementing the methodologies allows us to identify common issues and areas where confusion can arise during project implementation as well as during the validation and verification process. Specifically, RCE is highly competent regarding:
- Applicability Conditions
- Project Boundaries
- Additionality
- Financial, Technical, Common Practice, Performance Standards
- Baseline Scenarios
- Quantification of Baseline, Project, and Leakage Emissions
- Data and Parameters
- Quality Assurance Provisions
- Monitoring Requirements
Methodology Example
Mootral, a Swiss AgriTech company that develops innovative carbon reduction solutions for companies and governments, developed a methodology to reduce enteric methane emissions by inhibiting methanogenesis through the introduction of a natural feed supplement into ruminants’ diets. Mootral’s feed supplement is based on a proprietary combination of active compounds from garlic and flavonoids derived from citrus.
Enteric fermentation is a digestive process where microbes decompose and ferment plant materials, such as celluloses, fiber, starches, and sugars. Enteric methane is one by-product of this digestive process and is expelled by ruminants through burping. Enteric fermentation is a significant source of GHG emissions, with ruminants raised for meat and milk contributing up to 30% of all annual methane emissions.
RCE was hired by the Mootral to conduct the second assessment of the methodology under Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) program. Our review included all typical requirements for methodologies as well as all additional requirements for the VCS program. RCE has worked with livestock operations for nearly a decade concerning their GHG emissions and we have visited dairy and hog farms all around the United States.
Our real-world experience in this sector allowed us to provide helpful and effective improvements to the methodology for potential project developers. The methodology was accepted and approved in November 2019 and can be found here.