CDM PROJECT TYPES

A generic description of CDM projects include:

Energy efficiency projects

1. Increasing building efficiency;

2. Increasing commercial/industrial energy efficiency; and

3. Implementing fuel switching from more carbon intensive fuels (such as coal and oil) to less carbon intensive fossils (such as natural gas or various alternative energy sources). Fuel switching also includes re-powering, upgrading instrumentation, controls, and/or equipment. Fuel switch projects can also refer to new or to be developed projects.

Methane recovery

Animal waste methane recovery and utilization (methane recovery technologies include installing an anaerobic digester (microbial breakdown in a controlled environment capturing the Methane) and utilizing methane to produce energy);

1. Coal mine methane recovery (collection and utilization of fugitive methane from coal mining);

2. Capture of biogas (landfill methane recovery and utilization);

3. Capture and utilization of fugitive gas from gas pipelines;

4. Methane collection and utilization from sewage/industrial waste treatment facilities; and,

5. Methane collection and utilization from any additional sources not mentioned above.

Industrial process changes
Any industrial process change resulting in the reduction of any category greenhouse gas emissions. This includes especially energy-intensive industrial production of such products as fertilizer, cement, metals such as aluminum, and other manufacturing.

Cogeneration
The use of waste heat from electric generation, such as exhaust from gas turbines, for
industrial purposes or heating.

Transport

1. Improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency by the introduction of new technologies;

2. Changes in vehicles and/or fuel type, for example, switch to electric cars or fuel cell vehicles;

3. Switch of transport mode, e.g. changing to less carbon intensive means of transport like trains; and

4. Reducing the frequency of the transport activity.

Agricultural sector

1. Energy efficiency improvements or switching to less carbon intensive energy sources for water pumps (irrigation);

2. Methane reductions in rice cultivation;

3. Reducing animal waste or using produced animal waste for energy generation (see also under methane recovery); and

4. Any other changes in an agricultural practices resulting in the reduction of any category of greenhouse gas emissions.

Land use
In the first commitment period (2008-2012), this category is limited to afforestation and reforestation activities. This is where jatropha forests may qualify, if the country certifies jatropha as a forest species.

A decision was made in Marrakech during COP 7 (2001), to include afforestation and reforestation as the only eligible land-use activities in the CDM These may be large or small-scale, single or multiple species, pure forestry or on farm systems, such as:

1. Establishment of woodlots on communal lands;

2. Reforestation of marginal areas with native species, e.g. riverine areas, steep slopes, around and between existing forest fragments (through planting and natural regeneration);

3. New, large-scale, industrial plantations;

4. Establishment of biomass plantations for energy production and the substitution of fossil fuels;

5. Small-scale plantations by landowners;

6. Introduction of trees into existing agricultural systems (agroforestry); and

7. Rehabilitation of degraded areas through tree planting or assisted natural regeneration.