The Clean Energy Regulator is responsible for the development of new methods under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). The method development priorities for 2021 were:

• soil carbon
  
• carbon capture and storage (CCS)
  
• biomethane
  
• plantation forestry
  
• blue carbon
  

Visit the Method development page for information on how methods are prioritised.

The Clean Energy Regulator develops priority methods through a co-design process with industry, potential end-users, scientists and technical experts and the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC). We have a KPI to develop new methods within 12 months of work starting unless intractable scientific or technical issues emerge.

We are committed to transparency and accountability. The method development tracker charts progress for each of the priority methods, providing stakeholders with visibility of the method development process.

Method development tracker

Key achievements

In working through the method development process for the five priority methods our most recent achievements are:

• 2 co-design workshops have now been held for all priority methods to seek feedback on early drafts of simple method guides and draft methods. We have incorporated feedback received to date into revised drafts.
• The CCS method was made by the Minister on 24 September 2021 and is available for ERF project registration.
• The 2021 soil carbon method was made by the Minister on 1 December 2021 and is available for ERF project registration.
  
• The 2022 blue carbon method was made by the Minister on 2 January 2022 and is available for ERF project registration.
  
• The 2022 plantation forestry method was made by the Minister on 2 January 2022 and will be available for ERF project registration on 31 January 2022.
  
• The 2022 biomethane method package variations to the landfill gas (generation) method, the domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater treatment method, and the animal effluent management method were made by the Minister on 2 January 2022 and are available for ERF project registration.