GHG Reductions: Offsets and Reduction Projects

We are a leading authority on both offsets as well as other project and technology-based emission reductions, such as quantifying the potential impacts of GHG technology demonstration projects and helping organizations analyze the impacts and benefits of their internal reduction projects so they can plan, prioritize and meet their targets. Over the years, we have completed countless GHG reduction quantifications and developed associated standardized methodologies for a wide variety of project types, including:

• Renewable energy (PV, solar thermal, wind, biomass cogeneration)
• In-situ oil sands extraction
• Conventional power generation
• Energy efficiency
• Waste management, including waste-to-energy
• Alternative fuels (bio-fuels, landfill gas, fuel cells)
• Transportation
• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Industrial processes

Offsets

With the growing significance of greenhouse gas reduction policies both in North America and around the globe, offset credits are becoming an increasingly important component of the solution to global climate change. They offer business opportunities to project developers and cost-efficient mitigation opportunities to corporate, governmental and national bodies that leverage existing market-based mechanisms. Whether it’s developing your strategy for how to source and use offsets within your organization, or helping you identify the project types that represent the biggest opportunities for you, we can help.

Quantification and reporting

Emission reductions must be real, quantifiable, verifiable, permanent, enforceable, and additional to be credible and meaningful. Our quantification, reporting and review services ensure the quality and credibility of your offset projects. We also help you present the information in a format that is easily accessible for your stakeholders and investors, while ensuring transparency for the GHG program authorities and funding agencies that are registering and verifying projects. Whether you need a project plan that clearly quantifies baseline scenarios and emission reductions or you need accurate project cash flows estimates, our experts can help.

Due diligence, risk and opportunity assessments

Regulatory uncertainty and carbon market volatility create potential risk for buyers, brokers, financiers and even project developers when they are considering developing and buying offset credits. At Delphi, we know that not all offsets are created equal. With unrivalled GHG quantification, regulatory policy and carbon markets and transactions expertise, we help clients:

• Develop and assess broad offset management strategies
• Identify and assess the feasibility of specific potential reduction projects
• Minimize and mitigate the risks involved in offset development, financing and end use.

Protocol design and development

We work with corporations, project developers, industry groups and governments to develop standardized offset quantification methodologies – or protocols – that can be used for a variety of projects of a similar type.  We create protocols that meet the high standards required by GHG programs and are designed with ease of reporting and verifiability in mind. Our deep expertise results from developing offset protocols in BC, Alberta, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), as well as for draft Canadian federal systems and government technology funding programs.

Validation and verification support

In addition to preparing high quality offset and inventory documentation that is ready for successful validation and verification, we can also support you through the audit process.  We are experts in the validation and verification process and requirements, and can help you choose an appropriate auditor/verifier, help keep the process on track, respond to auditor questions, and answer any questions that you may have.