Project Development Service

At VPA India, We help the clients during the whole procedure, which involves the following steps. Being one of the oldest consulting and project developers for GHG projects under VERRA (previously known as VCSA), we are involved in various VCS/VCS+CCB/REDD+/JNR/SD VISta/Landscape projects consulting & project development across the World since beginning of the VCS Program. In general project development and monetization process cycle under the VCS/CCB which are the most commonly used VERRA programs, consists of the following process steps: Ø  Review of the project activity and preparation of strategy. Ø  Decide whether to register the project as a single standalone VCS/CCB Project Activity or as a grouped project where multiple project instances can be included in the group at a later stage during verification. Ø  Preparation of Project Idea Note / Draft Project Document Ø  Intense discussions between project owner and VPA India to solidify the approach to be followed to accomplish the task of monetization of the carbon and environmental attributes. At this time generally the crediting period to go for is decided. In general, non-AFOLU projects have crediting period is either for 10 years fixed or 7 years renewed 2 times so that the total project crediting is 21 years. Ø  For AFOLU projects other than such ALM projects, the project crediting period can be 20 years up to a maximum of 100 years, means renewed at most four times with a total project crediting period not to exceed 100 years. In case of renewal after each crediting period, the base line has to be reassessed and applied accordingly. Generally during these discussions, the applicable approved methodology should have been decided. In case it is found that there is no approved technical methodology which is applicable as per the existing or proposed project activity then a new methodology is to be written and get it approved from VERRA. Both CDM and VCS methodologies are applicable and can be used for VERRA projects. The same is true for methodologies developed by the Climate Action Reserve, with the exception of their forest protocols. Ø  The VCS registry system is a multi-registry system, comprised of a number of registry service providers and a central project database. Project developers open accounts and submit required documentation to their chosen VCS registry administrator to apply for project registration and issuance of Verified Carbon Units (VCUs). VCS registry administrators are responsible for uploading project information to the VCS project database and for issuing VCUs into their clients’ accounts. There may be VCS and Registry specific fees for various services. Ø  Appointment of the VVB. As per the approved methodology, Project Documents based on VCS templates are prepared and submitted for publishing in the pipeline by VCS. Subsequent to this the VVB is appointed and the listed project documents are published for international stake holder consultation process on the VERRA web site. By this time local stake holder consultation must have been completed and details recorded as appropriate in the Project Document. Once the publishing period is completed the project onsite visit is conducted by the appointed VVB. Depending on the project start date and choice, project owner can go for either validation or validation + verification in the first attempt. Ø  Obtaining Host Country Approval letter is not necessary for VCS/CCB project. Ø  VVB issues the audit findings after conducting the project site visit. Ø  Audit findings are replied with relevant evidences and there after VVB may close all CAR’s and CL’s and issues the Final Validation Report along with the VCS Deed to Project owner. Alternatively, VVB may issue a negative opinion. Ø  Once the project documents are uploaded in the Registry system, VERRA may select the project for review. If the project is selected for review by VERRA, VVB along with the Project owner shall reply to VERRA findings and clos