EARTHOOD was contracted by ­­­­­­­­­­­­Infinite Solutions for verification of the project activity “Solar project in Andhra Pradesh by IndiGrid” in India. The verification was performed based on rules and requirements defined by GCC program for the project activity.

The project activity is a solar power project, which results in reductions of CO2e emissions that are real, measurable and give long-term benefits to the mitigation of climate change. It is demonstrated that the project is not a likely baseline scenario and the emission reductions attributable to the project are, hence, additional to any that would occur in the absence of the project activity. The project correctly applies the approved baseline and monitoring GCCM001, version 03.0 and is assessed against latest valid Project Standard, Verification Standard and Environment and Social Safeguards Standard and/or other applicable GCC/CDM Decisions/Tools/Guidance/Forms.

The project activity is likely to achieve the anticipated emission reductions stated in the PSF provided the underlying assumptions do not change. The expected emission reductions (annual average) from the project activity are estimated to be 187,784 tCO₂e/ annum over the selected fixed 10 years crediting period starting from 26/06/2018.

EARTHOOD has informed the project owners of the verification outcome through the draft verification report and final verification report. The final verification report contains the information with regard to fulfilment of the requirements for verification, as appropriate.

EARTHOOD applied the following verification process and methodology using a competent verification team.

·       the desk review of documents and evidence submitted by the project participant in context of the reference GCC rules and guidelines issued,

·       undertaking/conducting site visit, interview or interactions with the representative of the project participant,

·       reporting audit findings with respect to clarifications and non-conformities and the closure of the findings, as appropriate and

·       preparing a draft verification opinion based on the auditing findings and conclusions

·       technical review of the draft verification opinion along with other documents as appropriate by an independent competent technical review team

·       finalization of the verification opinion (this report)

Earthood Services Private Limited (EARTHOOD) has verified and hereby certifies that the GCC project activity “Solar project in Andhra Pradesh by IndiGrid”:

a.     has correctly described the Project Activity in the Project Submission Form (version 10 dated 18/01/2023) including the applicability of the approved methodology GCCCM001, version 3.0 and meets the methodology applicability conditions, is additional and is expected to achieve the forecasted real and additional GHG emission reductions, complies with the monitoring methodology, has appropriately conducted local and global stakeholder consultation processes and has calculated emission reduction estimates correctly and conservatively;

b.     is likely to generate GHG emission reductions amounting to the estimated 187,784 tCO₂e/ annum as indicated in the PSF, which are additional to the reductions that are likely to occur in absence of the Project Activity and complies with all applicable GCC rules, including ISO 14064-2 and ISO 14064-3, and therefore requests the GCC Program to register the Project Activity.

c.     is not likely to cause any net-harm to the environment and/or society and complies with the Environmental and Social Safeguards Standard, and therefore requests the GCC Program to register the Project Activity, which is likely to achieve the requirements of the Environmental No-net-harm Label (E+), the Social No-net-harm Label (S+) and CORSIA label; and

d.     is likely to contribute to the achievement of United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), comply with the Project Sustainability Standard, and contribute to achieving a total of 5 SDGs, which is likely to achieve the platinum SDG certification label (SDG+)

The Project Activity complies with all the applicable requirement of the GCC Program and ICAO’s requirements on CORSIA Emissions Unit Eligibility Criteria and CORSIA Eligible Emissions Units, as per Clarification No 1., v1.1 paragraph 21-23, and the ACCs expected to be issued during the crediting period is likely to be CORSIA eligible and can be used by International Airlines for offsetting their emissions during all phases of CORSIA and therefore requests GCC Steering Committee to append CORSIA Certification label (C+) to this project. The written attestation from the Host country on double counting shall be submitted by the project owner at ACCs issuance stage and a FAR remains open regarding the same.

Therefore, the project is being recommended to GCC Steering Committee for request for registration.