Project clusters
Several micro or small-scale projects with the same scope, methodology and technology can be validated, registered and verified together as one Project Cluster, while each keeps its identity.
Why cluster
Clustering cuts compliance costs, simplifies communication through one Delegate Entity, and makes validation and verification more efficient.
Eligibility
- Each project complies with the Carbon Standard.
- The cluster contains only micro-scale projects, only small-scale projects, or a mix.
- All projects share the same sectoral scope, the same methodology or set of methodologies, and the same technology and measures.
- No project is registered, or being registered, with CR-I or any other GHG programme. A whole cluster can instead be treated as an external project.
- The cluster is not a large-scale project split up.
- All IPPs give written agreement at listing, validation and registration.
How it works
- One set of documents: one DPD and one SCR, with estimates for each project and for the cluster.
- Baseline and additionality are justified for each project. A common monitoring approach is recommended.
- One reference number for the cluster.
- Same crediting type and period for all projects.
- Fees: an all-micro cluster pays the micro-scale registration fee; an all-small cluster pays the small-scale fee.
- One VVB, one report: a single VVB validates and verifies the whole cluster.
- Delegate Entity: chosen from the IPPs, holds an IPP account, receives the MCUs and discloses each project’s share.
If any project is rejected at validation, the whole cluster is rejected. Projects cannot be added or removed after registration. A project that exceeds its scale limit has its MCUs capped at the limit.
