Specified Gas Emitters Regulation Results for the 2010 Compliance Year

The Specified Gas Emitters Regulation has now reached the end of its 4^th compliance year (the 2010 year).  Since the implementation of the regulation in July 2007, the Alberta Emissions Offset Registry (AEOR) has registered a total of 78 projects and serialized almost 14 million tonnes (Mt) of GHG emission reductions and removals.

Summary of the 2010 Compliance Year (January 1 - December 31, 2010)

• 20 new offset projects were registered - Add on vintage to 24 existing projects
  • 4.2 Mt of reductions / removals verified and registered on the registry
  • 3.86 Mt offset credits used for regulated facility compliance

Initial, unaudited compliance results from Alberta Environment are: (News Release May 3, 2011)

• Improvements to Operations 0.68 Megatonnes
• CCEM Fund Payments 4.67 Megatonnes ($70.0 million)
• Alberta-based Offset Credit Purchases 3.86 Megatonnes
• Emission Performance Credits retired 1.92 Megatonnes
  • Emission Performance Credits generated 1.96 Megatonnes

Alberta-based Offset Credit Usage - 3.86 Mt C02e

Regulated facilities purchased almost 3.86 Mt worth of offset credits that were created following one of the Alberta-government approved quantification protocols, were verified by a third party, and registered on the Alberta Emissions Offset Registry (AEOR).  Offset credits used for compliance were seen from 13 different project types.

The AEOR processed 20 new offset projects and additional vintage offset requests for 24 existing registered projects, with all or portions of these projects' offsets being submitted by regulated facilities for government compliance. The registry processed 16 Tillage Management, 2 Wind Generation, 1 Acid Gas Injection, and 1 Biomass Energy project-types. 

• Improvements to Operations - 0.68 Megatonnes
  Facilities made internal improvements to their operations that resulted in 0.68 Megatonnes of GHG reductions. For example, a facility could have installed a more efficient boiler or more effectively use energy such as steam that would otherwise be released by the facility.

• CCEM Fund Payments - 4.67 Megatonnes (~$70.0 million)
  Companies used the payment compliance option for approximately $70.0 million into the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund (CCEM), which invests in projects and technology that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Alberta. The CCEMC is a not-for-profit, independent organization with a mandate to expand climate change knowledge, develop new ‘clean' technologies and explore practical ways of implementing them. More information available at www.ccemc.ca.

• Emission Performance Credits - 1.92 Megatonnes
  A facility was able to purchase EPCs from others or use earned EPCs from reducing their emissions intensity beyond the government reduction target in previous years.  In 2010, 1.96 Mt of emission performance credits were generated by facility improvements that may be banked for future use. In addition, 1.92 Mt of emission performance credits were submitted for compliance purposes.