A wastewater project involves reducing the amount of methane released into the atmosphere by changing the way domestic, commercial or industrial wastewater is treated. Instead of using an open lagoon, the lagoon may be covered, or a closed vessel may be constructed to capture the methane generated for use as fuel elsewhere. The overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of a wastewater project is known as ‘abatement’.
The net amount of abatement is calculated by subtracting project emissions from baseline emissions. The baseline is an estimate of emissions that would have occurred in the absence of the project; that is, if wastewater was treated using an open lagoon. Project emissions are those that result from energy used to run the wastewater project.
To conduct a wastewater project and earn ACCUs, make sure you read and understand the method and other legislative requirements. To do this, you will need to:
- Download the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Wastewater) Methodology Determination 2015 and its explanatory statement.
- Download and understand how the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (the Act), the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Regulations 2011 and the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 apply to your project.
- Ensure you have the legal right to conduct your project as well as the consent of anyone with a legal interest in the land (eligible interest holders).
- Apply to register as a scheme participant, to open an account in the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) and to conduct a wastewater project.
- Set up your project according to the instructions in Part 3 of the method. Set up record keeping and monitoring systems for your project as required by Part 5 of the method.
- Estimate the average annual abatement of your project, obtain an audit schedule for your project from the Clean Energy Regulator and engage a category 2 or 3 Greenhouse and Energy Auditor early on in your project. Submit audits of your project according to your audit schedule.
- Determine the amount of emissions avoided by your project using the calculations in Part 4 of the method. Convert the amount of emissions avoided into carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e).
- Submit your project report and application for ACCUs to the Clean Energy Regulator for assessment.