Where exceptional circumstances exist, a project may seek an exception to paragraph 2.1.3. This include cases when a project serves impoverished beneficiaries at preferential electricity rates or the project is located in a conflict zone, or penetration of proposed project technology type is not a common practice in the relevant region of the host country. 

Exceptional circumstances will be judged on a case-by-case basis and are entirely at the discretion of Gold Standard. If exceptional circumstance exists;

• A request for exception approval may be submitted before submitting the project for preliminary review.
• The project developer shall submit a memo describing the exceptional circumstances that are relevant to the proposed activities, accompanied, at a minimum, with an Investment Analysis to demonstrate the financial additionality. The developer shall follow the latest version of CDM methodology tool “Methodological tool: Investment analysis” to demonstrate financial additionality as per the CDM Requirements. The review process may include independent expert analysis, paid for by the Project Developer but reimbursable against fees for first issuance (not reimbursable in the event of an unsuccessful application for exceptional circumstances). Penetration level significantly higher than the 5% benchmark, when proposed as an exception, are unlikely to be approved.
• Projects must still demonstrate additionality at the time of design certification unless otherwise stated elsewhere in Gold Standard requirements.