Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading Pilot has registered its first traded project involving solar water heating.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, CA, 2001-04-17 <SolarAccess.com> GERT recently completed reviews of two projects, including a project to incorporate fuel substitution and increase cogeneration. The seller in that project has not yet found a buyer for the credits. The provincial Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks has purchased the emission reductions from the installation of a solar water heating system at the municipal recreation centre in Lillooet, BC. The system was installed by Taylor Munro Energy Systems of Vancouver, and uses solar collectors to displace the need for propane to be burned to pre-heat water for the indoor swimming pool. “Solar energy is clean, limitless and free and the benefits can make a profound impact, not only on the pocketbook, but on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,” says Joe Thwaites, president of Taylor Munro Energy. “The additional revenue generated by this program means more people can afford to install renewable energy systems, like the pool in Lillooet. Someday, when solar heating is installed in every house, we will all benefit from cleaner air, and much lower heating costs.” “This purchase shows that small projects can play a role in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change,” says Ian Waddell, Minister of the environment department. “For the sake of future generations, I encourage more municipalities to follow the lead of Lillooet and look at ways to reduce emissions through the use of solar heating or other alternatives to fossil fuel.” The second project involves fuel substitution and cogeneration at the Powell River paper mill operated by Pacifica Papers. The company replaced three boilers fired by wood waste and natural gas with a new fluidized bed wood waste boiler. The boiler replacement increased cogeneration of electricity at the plant, reducing the amount of electricity the plant must purchase from outside sources. GERT involves provincial and federal government agencies, industry associations, environmental organizations, and non-governmental agencies, to learn about emission reduction trading by reviewing actual projects and trades. Emission reductions generated from traded projects may be submitted to GERT annually for registration. GERT reviews and registers the projects that have been traded, as well as the annual emission reductions generated from the projects. Recent changes allow GERT to review projects that are not offered for sale and the non-profit group has removed its former requirement that the reduction of GHG take place either in Canada or be reported only in the country. By modifying and expanding its eligibility criteria, GERT hopes to review more projects. GERT will accept projects until the end of this year, when it is scheduled to end.
