Voluntary Project Activity (VPA) / Component Project Activity (CPA)

Inclusion of VPAs/CPAs

• At least one VPA/CPA of the registered PoA has completed successful performance certification

AND

• The VPA/CPA that has completed performance certification and the VPAs/CPAs that are included by the CME without VVB compliance check shall: 
1. Involve the same technology/measure and apply the same methodology in the case of single technology PoA 
2. Involve the same technologies/measures and apply the same methodology(ies) combination in case of multi-technology PoA 

*Note: This rule update enters into force on 13/08/2020.

The VPA/CPA-level design change request can be submitted following the applicable tracks as specified below depending on the nature of the design change: 

• Prior notification track – When material and permanent changes to the VPA/CPA are made (e.g., changes like installed capacity that will have an impact on all upcoming issuances etc.), the Coordinating/Managing Entity (CME) shall submit the request for the design change in advance of the CPA/VPA’s verification/performance certification following Annex A – Design Change Approval Procedure, Principles and Requirements. 

• Issuance track – When the scope of the CPA/VPA design change is limited to minor changes, the verifying Validation and Verification Body (VVB) shall review and provide an opinion on the design change as part of the verification. Such design change requests shall be submitted in tandem with the request for performance certification of the VPA/CPA.
  

"Minor changes" in a Voluntary Project Activities (VPAs)/ Component Project Activities (CPA) design change

Minor changes are defined as follows:

• Any corrections to project information of a registered VPA/CPA that do not affect the design of the VPA/CPA 
• Temporary deviations from the registered monitoring plan for which alternative monitoring arrangements are proposed, if the proposed alternative monitoring arrangements produce a conservative estimate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction or net anthropogenic GHG removal 
• Changes to the monitoring of a registered VPA/CPA that have no material impact on the applicability of the applied methodologies or the other applied methodological regulatory documents, or the accuracy and completeness of the monitoring
• Changes to the design of a registered VPA/CPA that do not adversely impact any of the following:
• The applicability and application of the applied methodologies, the applied standardized baselines and the other applied methodological regulatory documents, under which the PoA has been registered; 
• The additionality of the VPA/CPA;
• The scale of VPA/CPA 
• Changes to the VPA/CPA design to use the positive list for demonstrating additionality

The Programme of Activity (PoA) requirement states that a CPA/VPA may be submitted for inclusion to the PoA at any time during the duration of the PoA by the CME.

A Verified Project Activity (VPA) can be submitted after a Programme of Activity (PoA) renewal. All new VPAs submitted for inclusion after the end date of a crediting period of the PoA shall follow the latest version of the PoA available at the time of submission for inclusion.

For example, if a new VPA was listed before the end of the first crediting period of the PoA, but submitted for inclusion after the start of the second crediting period of the PoA, the VPA must be designed and included as per that PoA Design Document version registered for the second crediting period.

If the crediting period start date of a new VPA is before the start date of the second crediting period of the PoA, the VPA can submit retroactive issuance up to maximum two (2) years before date of inclusion.

Such VPAs will not be required to renew their next crediting period before the end of the second crediting period of the PoA, which would allow VPAs to claim a maximum of up to 7 crediting years under the second crediting period of the PoA. However, under no circumstances will VPAs be allowed to claim more than the maximum crediting period allowed as per applicable activity and/or product requirements. 

Small Scale threshold 

There are three eligible project types:

1. Type I: Renewable energy project with a maximum output capacity of 15 MW (or equivalent).
   
2. Type II: Energy-efficiency improvement project activities that reduce energy consumption, on the supply and/or demand side, with a maximum energy saving of 60 GWh per year (or an appropriate equivalent) in any year of the crediting period. In this context, for project activities that improve thermal energy efficiency, the maximum energy saving of 60 GWh(e) per year is equivalent to 180 GWh(th) per year savings.
   
3. Type III: Other project activities. For example, the project involves technologies such Safe Water Supply, Waste management, etc. not included in Type I or Type II that result in GHG emission reductions not exceeding 60,000 ton CO2e per year in any year of the crediting period.