Dominating technologies

The most established technology within the CDM framework is hydro power. Small-scale hydro power projects top the list when measured in number of projects on all levels of the project cycle, followed by biomass and biogas.

Hydro power projects generate electricity through the use of moving water. It can be generated through the use of existing dams, by constructing new dams or through run of river technology. Run of river projects capture kinetic energy from rivers and streams without the use of a reservoir. This type of technology uses the natural flow and elevation drop already in a river and does not require large alternations to the landscape. In rural areas without access to electricity small-scale¹⁴ hydro installations are often used to replace diesel generators or other small-scale power plants (REN21 2010).

As of 1^st October 2010 106 small-scale hydro power projects had reached the “issued-stage”

where CERs are being created. Out of the different categories, run of river projects are by far the most used with 470 projects under “validation”. New reservoir-projects are also well-represented in the pipeline compared to other technologies, but with far less projects than run of river.

Table 4.2 Hydro power projects by type and status

Biomass is another technology that has seen a substantial amount of small-scale projects implemented under the CDM. The UNFCCC defines biomass as “by-products, residues and waste streams from agriculture, forestry and related industries”¹⁵. The small-scale biomass

14 The definition for small-scale CDM projects limits projects to a maximum output capacity of 15 MW. The global data for small hydro power has been inconsistent between countries, with many different capacity limits.

China has used less than 50 MW, Brazil and the US less than 30 MW and India less than 25 MW. As of 2010 the Renewables 2010 Global Status Report has started using a definition of less than 10 MW.

projects cover power and heat generation from solid biomass like bagasse¹⁶ and rice husks.

Currently there are 352 projects classified as validated, 197 under RR and 75 that have started creating CERs. As of 1^st October 2010 59 projects were at stage VA-00. The largest amount of projects currently in the pipeline is classified as “others”. This includes biomass combined stoves and heaters, thermal energy production, fuel switch and biomass-based power plants among others. Rice husk projects are also well represented throughout the pipeline.

Table 4.3 Biomass projects by type and status

Closely linked to biomass is biogas, which is the use of domestic, industrial and agricultural sewage to produce energy for domestic processes such as heating and lighting¹⁷. So far biogas has mainly been used to generate electricity in OECD countries. However, the technology is also on the increase in developing countries (REN21 2010).

In the CDM pipeline there are currently 329 projects at validated, 248 at requested and registered, and 15 that have started generating CERs. For small-scale projects classified as biogas, animal waste and wastewater treatment are the most frequent project types currently in the pipeline.

In total there are 55 small-scale biogas projects under VA-00, where 34 are wastewater treatment projects, 13 animal waste and 8 household biogas projects.

16 Bagasse is the by-product of sugar cane processing.

17 Oxford Dictionary of Chemistry

Table 4.4 Biogas projects by type and status

Energy efficiency also encompasses many different types of projects. Factory installations are represented with the most small-scale projects at present. 139 projects are under validation, 55 under requested and registered and 18 have started creating CERs. Out of all the projects currently at the validation stage 53 are at VA-00.

Table 4.5 Energy efficiency projects by type and status

Validation Registration Issuance

Small-scale wind power projects are also fairly well represented throughout the pipeline.

There are 302 projects in validation and 118 in requested and registered. 36 of these projects have reached the issued category as they have started creating CERs. At the validation stage these projects range between producing 0,225 MW and 9,6 MW, whereas for RR projects the largest one is only 2 MW. At the issued stage the projects have a capacity between 0,225 MW and 1,5 MW. Most of the projects involve several units. As of 1^st October 2010 there were 80 projects classified as VA-00.

Table 4.6 Wind power projects by type and status

Validation Registration Issuance

In the IGES database the projects have been divided into solar power and PV¹⁸. Despite being the fastest growing renewable energy form in the world, solar PV projects have so far not been well represented in the CDM pipeline. Only one project, a PV project in Indonesia, has reached the issued stage.

However, when looking at the current development of solar and PV there are a number of projects applying for validation and registration. For projects defined by IGES as solar power there were only two that were at the validation stage in April, but by October 2010 the number had gone up to 27. All of these 27 projects are at VA-00. Of the projects in VA-00, 12 are from India and 10 from China.

Table 4.7 Other renewable energies by type and status

Validation Registration Issuance

VA-00 VA-06 Total

Other renewable energies

Solar power 24 1 27 0 1

PV 3 12 26