Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the Department of Energy and Climate Change
ANALYSIS OF
CDM PROJECT ACTIVITIES
At the EAC emissions trading inquiry on 2 June
2009 DECC was asked to provide a more specific break down of CDM
projects, and in particular to define what proportion of CDM investments
are in low- or zero-carbon technologies as opposed to energy efficiency
projects. A total of 1,652 CDM projects have been registered to
date, the majority of these are concentrated in the Energy sector,
with the second largest sector waste handling and disposal. Figure
1 has a more detailed breakdown of CERS by sector.[6]
Figure 1a shows CERs produced to date and figure 1b shows the
projected CERS by 2012.
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2 splits this information into "project
type" in order to show the investments in zero or low-carbon
technologies rather than energy efficiency projects. Again two
charts have been provided, 2a shows CERs produced to date, 2b
shows projected 2012 levels.
There are a variety of project types. Some are
clear zero technologies for example solar, tidal, wind and hydro.
However there are projects that utilise catalysts and processes
that reduce emissions from industrial gas production that lead
to zero or near zero emissions.
760 projects (which as shown below produce 62%
of credits) are utilising zero or near zero carbon technologies.
However the value to the environment of other technologies should
not be dismissed. The projects that involve biogas, biomass, and
energy from waste along with energy efficiency are extremely valuable
if not zero carbon.
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
6 Information taken from The CDM Pipeline report by
Jorgen Fenhann UNEP Riso Centre. Back
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