Case Study: Gemina Rice Husk

Project Nicaragua

(Scenario Analysis and Small-Scale Simplified Methodologies)

Carbon Finance UnitThe World Bank22 October 2002

www.CarbonFinance.org

(Revised by CCIC, 17 July 2003)

                                      

                                                                                                                         

Contents

• Introduction to the Gemina Rice Husk Project

• Elements of the baseline

• Applicability of the Meth Panel’s recommendations for simplified methodologies for Small-Scale CDM projects

                                                                                                                         

Introduction to the Project • Current practice

– Gemina produces 18,000 tons of rice husk yearly, increasing to 25,000 tons after expansion in 2003

– Rice husks are dumped in open piles– Periodic burning of piles to reduce

volume

• Rice husk to electricity project– Construction of ~1.6 MW power plant– Plant consumes 2.75 t rice husk per hour– Ash used to substitute for cement

                                                                                                                         

Introduction to the Project • Technology: Conventional

boiler/steam turbine– Rice husks are fed to the combustor and

burned to produced to produce heat– Steam generated is passed to steam

turbine which drives an electrical generator

• Rice Husk Power Plant– To cover electricity demand for rice and

flourmill complex– And sell the excess electricity to third

parties

                                                                                                                         

Introduction to the Project • Main sources of emission reductions

– Displacement of electricity from fossil fuel

– Methane reduction from avoided rice husk decomposition

– CO2 reduction from substitution of cement

0 / 2,712 t CO2eCO2 cement2,338 / 2,338 t CO2eMethane from husks

7,418 / 11,144 t CO2eCO2 energy

•Projected reduction 21 years: 212,395 t CO2e (low)

•Yearly reductions 2003-2012 (low/optimal)

                                                                                                                         

Elements of the Baseline

• Baseline– Electricity would otherwise be produced using

fossil fuels– Dumping of waste husks from Gemina rice

mill in open piles

• Gemina project is small-scale– Renewable energy component less than 15MW– Rice husk power plant directly emits less than

15,000 t CO2e

If biomass is counted as renewable energy direct emissions from the project are zero

                                                                                                                         

Elements of the Baseline• Approach for calculating baseline

emissions selected by Gemina– Marrakech Accord 48 a): Existing or

historical emissions, as applicable• Justification of selected approach

– 48 a) defines Business-as-usual as baseline scenario

– PCF interpretation: BAU can be justified by(a) using historic or current information

(control group) or (b) showing that barriers impede other options.

- especially relevant for small scale investments

                                                                                                                         

Elements of the Baseline

Barriers to investment identified for Geminaa) Regulatory barriers to access the market for

electricity- Smallest block of electricity that can be

offered on the Nicaragua wholesale market is 5 MW (Gemina 1.6 MW)

b) Competitive disadvantage of non-traditional projects- Lack of precedents regarding integration of

small generators of renewable energy created problems with concessionaire

c) Limited access to credit- Gemina could not attract financing due to

inter alia absence of long-term PPA, high country risk for Nicaragua

                                                                                                                         

Elements of the Baseline

• Indicator for restrictive nature of identified barriers:– Gemina rice husk generator is first-of-a-

kind technology in all Central America

• PCF assistance to overcome the barriers– Carbon purchase agreement is secure

revenue stream– World Bank involvement may trigger the

interest of other financial institutions

                                                                                                                         

Applicability of Meth Panel’s recommendation for simplified methodologies

• Gemina project falls under category I. D. “Renewable Electricity Generation for a Grid”

• Recommended simplified methodology:– Technology/Measure:

25. Biomass combined heat and power (co-generation) systems that supply electricity to a grid

– Boundary:26. Physical, geographical site of the

renewable generation source

                                                                                                                         

Applicability of Meth Panel’s recommendation for simplified methodologies

• Recommended simplified methodology:– Baseline:

28. For a system where all fossil fuel fired generating units use fuel oil or diesel oil, the baseline is the annual kWh generated by the renewable unit times an emission coefficient for a modern diesel generating unit of the relevant capacity operating at optimal load

– Leakage:30. If the renewable energy technology is

new equipment being installed for the first time, no leakage calculation is required.

                                                                                                                         

Applicability of Meth Panel’s recommendation for simplified methodologies

• Recommended simplified methodology:– Monitoring:

31. Shall consist of metering the electricity generated by the renewable technology. In the case of co-fired plants, the amount of biomass input and its energy content shall be monitored.

                                                                                                                         

Thank you !

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

CDM Training WorkshopNovember 4-6, 2003

Climate Change Information Center Conference Room