We work with the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) to consult on all new and varied Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) methods. This process includes public consultation to ensure they are fit for purpose and meet the offsets integrity standards in the
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011. This assists the ERAC in forming their advice to the Minister.
Method development tracker
We are committed to transparency and accountability. The method development tracker charts progress for each of the priority methods, providing you with visibility of the method development process. Below is the status of our methods under development. Click on a method to learn more about it.
Refinement and draft finalisation
Key achievements
In working through the method development process our most recent achievements are:
- in February and March 2022, the first round of co-design workshops were held for the 5 new priority methods
- in 2022, the Minister made the following methods, which are now available for ERF project registration:
- plantation forestry method (2 January 2022)
- blue carbon method (2 January 2022)
- biomethane method package variations to the landfill gas (generation) method (2 January 2022).
- in 2021, the Minister made the following methods, which are now available for ERF project registration:
- soil carbon method (1 December 2021)
- carbon capture and storage (24 December 2021).
2022 priorities
Development milestones
The new transport method will reduce emissions from transport.
Planning and scoping milestones
- Ministerial method priority announced October 2021
- Initial method scoping and planning to be completed by June 2022
Develop draft method milestones
- Initial co-design workshop held during the week of 7 March 2022
- Further co-design process to be continued through additional workshops; interested parties will be notified.
Technical and expert consultation milestones
- Technical and expert consultation to be undertaken throughout May to September 2022
ERAC consideration milestones
- ERAC consideration for consultation scheduled September 2022
Public consultation milestones
- Public consultation to be undertaken October 2022
Refinement and draft finalisation milestone
- Refinement and draft finalisation to be undertaken November and December 2022
- ERAC decision for approval scheduled February 2023
Minister approval milestone
- Minister approval scheduled February 2023
Issues register
Below are the issues and our responses as at 30 September 2022.
| Issue | Response |
|---|
| Crediting ACCUs to the producer or consumer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel | The CER is seeking feedback on whether the new transport method should credit ACCUs to the:
- producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, or
- consumer who undertakes fuel switching.
|
| Eligible feedstocks for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel production | The CER will collaborate with stakeholders to determine:
- which feedstocks are most prospective
- how the method could address the risk of adverse impacts by setting feedstock eligibility criteria.
|
| Accounting for emissions from the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels | The CER is considering possible approaches to account for emissions from the production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels. |
| Interaction with the existing ERF transport methods | The CER is seeking stakeholder feedback on potential enhancements to the existing methods which could increase uptake. These enhancements would need to meet the Offsets Integrity Standards. The CER is considering whether there is sufficient evidence to support additionality and abatement estimations for mode shifting under the new transport method. |
The new carbon capture use and storage method will look at capturing carbon dioxide including in the production of industrial and building materials.
Development milestones
Planning and scoping milestones
- Ministerial method priority announced October 2021
- Initial method scoping and planning to be completed by June 2022
Develop draft method milestones
- Initial co-design workshop held during the week of 14 March 2022
- Co-design process to be continued through additional workshops; interested parties will be notified.
Technical and expert consultation milestones
- Technical and expert consultation to be undertaken throughout May to September 2022
ERAC consideration milestones
- Initial ERAC consideration for consultation scheduled September 2022
Public consultation milestones
- Public consultation to be held October 2022
Refinement and draft finalisation milestone
- Refinement and draft finalisation to be undertaken November and December 2022
- ERAC decision for approval scheduled February 2023
Minister approval milestone
- Minister approval scheduled February 2023
The proposed ERF clean hydrogen method will credit the abatement generated from displacing high emissions fuels with clean hydrogen, taking into account emissions from producing the hydrogen. It is proposed that an ERF clean hydrogen project will involve producing and using clean hydrogen, either on-site or by injection into a gas distribution network in Australia, to displace higher emissions fuels and feedstocks.
Development milestones
Planning and scoping milestones
- Ministerial method priority announced October 2021
- Initial method scoping and planning to be completed by June 2022
Develop draft method milestones
- Initial co-design workshop held during the week of 4 March 2022
- Co-design process to be continued through additional workshops; interested parties will be notified.
Technical and expert consultation milestones
- Technical and expert consultation to be held throughout May to September 2022
ERAC consideration milestones
- ERAC consideration for consultation scheduled September 2022
Public consultation milestones
- Public consultation to be undertaken in October 2022
Refinement and draft finalisation milestone
- Refinement and draft finalisation to be undertaken in November and December 2022
- ERAC decision for approval scheduled February 2023
Minister approval milestone
- Minister approval scheduled February 2023
Issues register
Below are the issues and our responses as at 30 September 2022.
| Issue | Response |
|---|
| Interaction with the Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme that is being developed concurrently | The CER is developing the hydrogen method in tandem with the GO scheme. The interactions between the 2 schemes are being closely considered during the method development process. It is intended that certain aspects of the proposed clean hydrogen method will align with the GO scheme. |
| Accounting for the emissions from hydrogen production | The CER is considering possible approaches to account for the emissions from electricity use in electrolysis. |
| Emissions factors to calculate net abatement for different hydrogen end uses | The CER is engaging with experts to develop emissions factors. |
The new savanna fire management method builds on existing methods, incorporating the latest version of Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) to better align with the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and expand the carbon pools and vegetation types for which projects can be issued credits. The new methods will also aim to remove barriers while maintaining scheme integrity.
Development milestones
Planning and scoping milestones
- Ministerial method priority announced October 2021
- Initial method scoping and planning completed by March 2022
Develop draft method milestones
- Initial co-design workshop held on 17 March 2022
- Second co-design workshop to be held in July 2022
Technical and expert consultation milestones
- Technical and expert consultation to be undertaken June, July and August 2022
ERAC consideration milestones
- ERAC consideration for consultation scheduled September 2022
Public consultation milestones
- Public consultation to be held October 2022
Refinement and draft finalisation milestone
- Refinement and draft finalisation to be undertaken November and December 2022
- ERAC decision for approval scheduled February 2023
Minister approval milestone
- Minister approval scheduled February 2023
Issues register
Below are the issues and our responses as at 30 September 2022.
| Issue | Response |
|---|
| Functionality of the SavCAM abatement estimation tool | The SavCAM tool will build on the existing user interface of SavBAT, while integrating FullCAM for abatement calculations. The CER will investigate opportunities to improve output reports to provide more granular information and increase usability. The CER will consult on SavCAM during the public consultation period for the methods scheduled for late 2022. |
| Extension of eligible project area | The CER is aware of interest in extending the eligible region for project areas southwards of the current 600mm+ rainfall zone. The CER is considering changes to the method to allow project registrations in the area southward of the 600+mm rainfall zone. This would be without variation to the method once parameters for this area exist in FullCAM. |
Allowing separate land-based activities to be combined or 'stacked' on the same property or aggregated properties. The integrated farm management method aims to increase the carbon pools and activities for which individual projects may receive credits, while reducing the administrative costs associated with registering, reporting and auditing on multiple projects.
Development milestones
Planning and scoping milestones
- Ministerial method priority announced October 2021
- Initial scoping and planning to be completed by April 2022
Develop draft method milestones
- Scoping workshop held on 3 March 2022
- Co-design process to be continued through workshops to be held between April and June
Technical and expert consultation milestones
- Technical and expert consultation to be undertaken throughout May to September 2022
ERAC consideration milestones
- ERAC consideration for consultation scheduled September 2022
Public consultation milestones
- Public consultation to be undertaken October 2022
Refinement and draft finalisation milestone
- Refinement and draft finalisation to be undertaken November and December 2022
- ERAC decision for approval scheduled February 2023
Minister approval milestone
- Minister approval scheduled February 2023
Issues register
Below are the issues and our responses as at 30 September 2022.
| Issue | Response |
|---|
| Developing new abatement estimation approaches to incorporate scientific advances and take advantage of new technologies. | The CER is working with industry and technical experts on measurement-based and hybrid (measure-model-measure) estimation approaches that meet the Offsets Integrity Standards. |
| Additionality approach for vegetation activities | The CER is working with industry and technical experts to develop baselining approaches for vegetation activities (particularly for regeneration systems) using the new estimation approaches that meet the Offsets Integrity Standards. |
| Managing potential adverse environmental impacts from plantings | The CER is seeking input on appropriate controls around fodder and permanent plantings to prevent them becoming environmental weeds. |
Other consultations
Visit the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources consultation hub to see
current and previous consultations on methods.
Visit the
Clean Energy Regulator consultation hub to find and participate in current consultations that interest you.