The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) have released new accounting guidelines for quantifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions benefits of renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects.
According to the organizations, the ‘Guidelines for Quantifying GHG Reductions from Grid-Connected Electricity Projects’ is a how-to manual based on the GHG Protocol for Project Accounting previously developed by WRI and WBCSD.
Developers of wind-energy projects can use the guidelines to rigorously, credibly and transparently estimate emissions reductions using basic data on local power plants, the organizations explain. The methods described in the guidelines can be used anywhere in the world where these data are available.
In addition, the guidelines are intended to be of use to designers of carbon-offset programs and other initiatives that give credit for GHG emission reductions from renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects. The guidelines can be used, for instance, to calculate how much carbon dioxide is avoided per MWh of renewable electricity.
