News from GGCS

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CDP guidance continues to allow use of certificates

Posted: 12 November, 2024. Written by Jesse Scharf

The GGCS continues to receive a number of queries about the use of RGGOs for emissions reporting. Each consumer must consult their internal and external stakeholder and the GGCS can signpost to relevant guidance from various sources. 

The CDP is a widely used disclosure and target setting program. Below is the full PDF of their current guidance from which we have copied the below.  

"Carbon dioxide emitted from the combustion of biomass/biofuel or fermentation should not be included in your response to question C6.1 but instead should be reported in C6.7. This applies to self-generated biogas, and biogas delivered by a direct, dedicated pipeline.

When gas is sourced from a shared pipeline network with multiple sources including both renewable and non-renewable sources, certificates are required to demonstrate the renewable origin of gas (i.e. “certified biogas” or “green gas certificates”) and the following conditions need to be met:

• The company combusts gas sourced from a shared gas pipeline network; It also owns or purchases green gas certificates that originated from one of the gas producers on the pipeline network – these need not necessarily be purchased directly from the biogas producers;
• The company permanently retains the environmental attributes of the gas consumption, including any energy attribute certificates. The appropriateness of using market-based instruments such as green gas certificates for the emissions inventories is a contested issue. The GHG Protocol is undertaking a process to determine the need and scope for additional guidance building on the existing set of corporate GHG accounting and reporting standards for Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. As part of this process, the GHG Protocol plans to holistically examine the appropriateness of market-based accounting methods across sectors, end-uses, and scopes. CDP intends to align with any revisions to the GHG Protocol standards and guidance resulting from this process, including on the use of green gas certificates for emissions accounting.
• While the GHG Protocol process is ongoing, companies are encouraged to make their own judgement of the appropriateness of using green gas certificates in their emissions accounting.Companies should be transparent about any such use of green gas certificates by providing relevant details in the "Comment" column (column 5) in question C6.1, and in C6.7a. If the company uses biogas that is sourced from a dedicated pipeline and the source is renewable, then they do not need certificates to prove the renewable origin. CDP does not have specific requirements or recommendations for biogas certification. Certified biogas is defined as a contractual instrument that meets the Scope 2 Quality Criteria in GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance. 
• For more information on this refer to CDP Technical Note: Accounting of Scope 2 emissions"

Further Information:

• CDPClimateChange2023ReportingGuidance (0.08 MB)