auto_stories A guide to using the land and sea transport method

Overview

A land and sea transport project involves activities such as replacing or modifying existing vehicles, changing or modifying fuel sources or improving operational practices.

In doing so, the project helps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere resulting from the operation of land vehicles and sea vessels. The net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of a project is termed ‘abatement’.

The emissions avoided by a land and sea transport project are calculated by using the total ‘emissions intensity’ of vehicles before the project and the actual emissions after the project, to determine the decrease in emissions from the project for a reporting period. Emissions intensity means the emissions that are produced compared with the service output; for example, the emissions per vehicle kilometres travelled (vkt). Using emissions intensity to calculate abatement allows emissions reductions to be credited independent of the level of service provided by an organisation. This means emissions after the project implementation may increase, but abatement is still created as abatement is determined on the basis of service output (e.g. vkt) for the reporting period.

Essential reading

To conduct a land and sea transport project and earn ACCUs, make sure you read and understand the method and other legislative requirements. You will need to:

• Review the  Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Land and Sea Transport) Methodology Determination 2015 and its  Explanatory Statement.
• Download and understand how the following apply to the project:
  •   Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (the CFI Act)
  •  Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Regulations 2011 (CFI Regulations), and
  •  Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015.
• Ensure you have the legal rights required to conduct your project.
• Apply to register as a scheme participant, to open an account in the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) and to conduct a land and sea transport project.
• Set up your project according to the instructions in Parts 2 and 3 of the method. Set up record keeping and monitoring systems for your project as required by Part 5 of the method and Part 17 of the legislative rule.
• Estimate the average annual abatement of your project, obtain an audit schedule for your project from the Clean Energy Regulator and engage a Category 2 or 3 Greenhouse and Energy Auditor early. Submit audits of your project according to your audit schedule.
• Determine the amount of emissions using the calculations in Part 4 of the method. Convert the amount of carbon captured into tCO2-e.
• Submit your project reports and application(s) for ACCUs, along with audit reports where scheduled.