USIJI PROJECT - Enersol · usiji project march 1999 fact sheet usiji projects the u.s. i nitiative on joint implementation (usiji) is proud to profile 36 accepted projects that offer

USIJI PROJECTMarch 1999 FFFFFAAAAACT SHEETCT SHEETCT SHEETCT SHEETCT SHEET

USIJI PROJECTS

THE U.S. INITIATIVE ON JOINT IMPLEMENTATION (USIJI) IS PROUD TO PROFILE

36 ACCEPTED PROJECTS THAT OFFER INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO COMBAT THE THREAT OF

CLIMATE CHANGE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. THESE PROJECTS TAKE PLACE

IN 16 COUNTRIES ON FOUR CONTINENTS AND APPLY A VARIETY OF TECHNOLOGIES AND

PRACTICES, INCLUDING WIND, GEOTHERMAL, HYDROELECTRIC, AND SOLAR ENERGY; COAL TO

NATURAL GAS FUEL SWITCHING; METHANE GAS CAPTURE; BIOMASS WASTE-TO-ENERGY

GENERATION; FOREST CONSERVATION; REFORESTATION AND SUSTAINABLE LAND

MANAGEMENT; REDUCED IMPACT LOGGING; AND ENERGY-EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS TO

DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEMS AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES. IF ALL PROJECTS ARE FULLY

FINANCED AND IMPLEMENTED, MORE THAN 298 MILLION METRIC TONNES (TONNES) OF CO2

WILL BE SEQUESTERED OR OFFSET. USIJI LOOKS FORWARD TO ESTABLISHING EVEN MORE

PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL RESULT IN THE REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG)

EMISSIONS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,PLEASE WRITE OR VISIT

USIJI AT:The USIJI Secretariat

PO–61000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585 USA

Telephone: 1-202-586-3288

Fax: 1-202-586-3485 or 3486

U.S. INITIATIVE ON JOINT IMPLEMENTATION

2


THE USIJI EVALUATION PANEL

THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES PROVIDE

SUPPORT TO THE USIJI

SECRETARIAT :

Department of State

Department of Energy

Environmental Protection Agency

Agency for International

Development

Department of Agriculture

Department of Commerce

Department of the Interior

Department of the Treasury

FOREST PRESERVATION

ECOLAND: Piedras Blancas NationalParkCountry—Costa Rica: The projectpreserves tropical forest throughpurchase of 2,500 hectares (dependingon prices) in a “paper park,” the PiedrasBlancas National Park in southwesternCosta Rica. The land was under threatof deforestation from privatelandowners who were awaiting adelayed buyout by the government.ECOLAND has acquired all of theland, and the land is now part of the

National Conservation Area System.Projected GHG benefits are estimatedat 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 over 16years. Accepted February 3, 1995.Participants: COMBOS; Costa RicanMinistry of Environment and Energy;Rainforests of Austria; TenaskaWashington II Partners, Ltd.; Trexler andAssociates, Inc.Project Contact: Dr. Mark Trexler,Trexler and Associates, Inc., 1-503-786-0559.

Fuel Switching and Cogenerationfor Decin District Heating SystemCountry—Czech Republic: The projecthas replaced part of a lignite coal-fireddistrict heating system in the City ofDecin located in Northern Bohemia.Domestic participants will assist inconverting the Bynov District HeatingPlant from coal-fired boilers to naturalgas, internal-combustion engines, andassociated exhaust gas/hot water heatexchange equipment, in addition toassisting in improving the efficiency ofthe hot water distribution network.The project will reduce GHG emissions

and dramatically improve local airquality. Projected GHG benefits areestimated at 607,000 tonnes of CO2

over 26 years. A groundbreakingceremony on September 18, 1995,attracted Czech, U.S., and other foreigndignitaries. Accepted February 3, 1995.Participants: Center for Clean Air Policy;City of Decin, Czech Republic;Commonwealth Edison Company;NIPSCO Development Company;Wisconsin Electric Power Company.Project Contact: Tim Hargrave, Centerfor Clean Air Policy, 1-202-408-9260.

FUEL SWITCHING

PROJECT ABSTRACTS

3


WIND POWER GENERATION

Río Bravo Carbon Sequestration PilotProjectCountry—Belize: The project has twocomponents: the purchase of a total of13,700 hectares of land to add toexisting protected areas and theimplementation of sustainable forestmanagement practices on the largerconservation area to produce economicbenefits to the neighboring population.The project has already purchased6,000 hectares of endangered forestland to protect two adjacent tracts from

LAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

conversion to farmland. It also willsustainably manage 44,000 hectares offorest. It is estimated to sequester10 million tonnes of CO2 over thelifetime of the project. AcceptedFebruary 3, 1995.Participants: CINergy; Detroit EdisonCompany; PacifiCorp; Programme forBelize; The Nature Conservancy (TNC);Utilitree; Wisconsin Electric PowerCompany.Project Contact: Tia Nelson, TNC;1-703-841-5372.

Plantas Eólicas, S.A. Wind FacilityCountry—Costa Rica: The project, a20-megawatt, privately owned andoperated wind electric plant near thetown of Tejona, became fullyoperational in 1996. The projectconsists of 55 KENETECH Model33M-VS third-generation, variable-speed wind turbines. It is the firstcommercial-scale wind project in LatinAmerica and the largest private powerproject in Costa Rica. Electricity

generated by the project is sold to thenational utility company of Costa Ricaand displaces electricity currentlygenerated by the burning of fossil fuel.The estimated GHG benefits are223,000 tonnes of CO2. AcceptedFebruary 3, 1995.Participants: Illinova GeneratingCompany; Plantas Eólicas, S.A.Project Contact: Roger Morgenstern,Illinova Generating Company, 1-217-872-2365.

USIJI OFFERS PROJECT

PARTNERS:

TECHNICAL COOPERATION

INFORMATION RESOURCES

PUBLIC RECOGNITION

4


RUSAFOR: Saratov AfforestationProjectCountry—Russian Federation:Originally proposed to plant seedlingson 500 hectares of marginalagricultural land or burned foreststands, RUSAFOR has planted 900hectares, with an initial seedlingsurvival rate of 65 percent; additionalreplanting occurred in 1996. Theproject is designed to evaluate thebiological, operational, andinstitutional opportunities formanaging a Russian forest plantation asa carbon sink. It will sequester 293,000

LAND MANAGEMENT

tonnes of CO2 over its 60-year lifetime,prevent soil erosion, and foster publicparticipation in joint implementationactivities. Accepted February 3, 1995.Participants: International ForestryInstitute; Oregon State University;Russian Federal Forest Service;Sustainable Development TechnologyCorporation; U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency.Project Contact: Ted S. Vinson, Ph.D.,P.E., Oregon State University, 1-541-737-3494.

Solar-Based Rural Electrificationin HondurasCountry—Honduras: The project plansto increase the penetration of solarpanels in rural Honduras. Building onpilot-scale solar electrification activitiesunderway since 1992, CO2 would bedisplaced by replacing kerosene lampswith solar-based electric lights in ruralhomes. The project is expected toreduced CO2 emissions by more than34,000 tonnes over 24 years. Projectparticipants set up a solar-electricsystem financing program in May

SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION

1995, and the number and technicalcapacity of Honduran solar technicianshas grown since the project’sacceptance. Approximately 2,000 PVsystems have been installed inHonduran homes. With full funding, atotal of 7,000 units will be installed.Accepted February 3, 1995.Participants: ADESOL-Honduras;AHDE; AHDEJUMUR; COMARCA;Enersol Associates, Inc. Soluz Honduras,S.A. de C.V. Honduras; Soluz, Inc.Project Contact: Phillip Covell, EnersolAssociates, Inc., 1-978-251-1829.

MORE THAN 140 PROPOSALS

FROM OVER 30 COUNTRIES HAVE

BEEN SUBMITTED TO USIJI,

RESULTING IN 36 APPROVED

PROJECTS IN 16 COUNTRIES.

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The Carbon Sequestration ThroughCosta Rican Territorial and FinancialConsolidation of Biological ReservesProjectCountry—Costa Rica: This project willtransfer to the Costa Rican Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy primaryforest, secondary forest, and pasturelands that have been declared nationalparks or biological reserves but have notbeen registered in the NationalProperty Registry as part of the ForestPatrimony of the State. Until theregistration process has beencompleted, these lands will remainunder the management of their currentowners and will be vulnerable todeforestation. If fully funded, theproject would sequester an estimated57 million tonnes of CO

2 through

avoidance of tropical deforestation andregeneration of secondary forests andpasture lands on 530,000 hectares ofland newly converted to full protectionstatus. The project will also involve theconstruction of an Earth Center: amultidisciplinary developmentcombining residential, commercial, andwork activities to provide publiceducation and entertainment and topromote ecotourism. Two previousUSIJI projects, Project

FORESTRY REGENERATION & MANAGEMENT

BIODIVERSIFIX and the protectedarea component of project CARFIX:Sustainable Forest Management, havebeen incorporated into this project andare no longer reported as separate USIJIprojects.

Funds to purchase the project landsare proposed to be generated from thesale of “Certifiable Tradable Offsets”(CTOs) or “carbon bonds.” CTOsrepresent the creation of the firsttradable commodity for mitigation ofglobal climate change. Each CTO willrepresent a third-party certification of1,000 tonnes of carbon the projectsequestered the previous year.Monitoring and verification of theproject’s increased carbon sequestrationand original baseline are beingconducted by an experiencedcommodity trade monitoring firm. TheCosta Rican government will guaranteethe CTOs for 20 years. Accepted July28, 1997.Participants: Costa Rican Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy (MINAE);Costa Rican National Parks Foundation;Earth Council Foundation—Costa Rica;Earth Council Foundation—U.S.Project Contact: Adalberto Gorbitz,OCIC for MINAE, 011-506-220-0036.

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Doña Julia Hydroelectric ProjectCountry—Costa Rica: The projectinvolves the construction and operationof a 16-megawatt hydroelectric plantusing the Puerto Viejo River andQuebradón Creek in northern CostaRica. Estimated average annualelectricity generation is expected to be83–87.8 gigawatthours during peakenergy demand, displacingelectricity and GHG emissionscurrently produced by thermal fossilfuel-burning facilities. The facility ispartially constructed and is scheduledto be operational in November 1998.

HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATION

The power generated will be sold to theCosta Rican Institute of Electricity(ICE). Over the 15-year lifetime of theproject, the hydroelectric plant isestimated to produce a net reduction of210,000 tonnes in CO2 emissions.Accepted December 19, 1995.Participants: Compañía HidroeléctricaDoña Julia; Costa Rican Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy; ERI Services,Inc.; Grupo Saret (Costa Rica).Project Contact: Jeff Nelson, ERIServices, Inc., 1-860-249-4321ext. 138.

MOST USIJI PROJECTS HAVE

MULTIPLE PARTNERS.

USIJI PROJECTS COUPLE

CLEAN ENERGY ACTIVITIES WITH

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO

PRODUCE EFFICIENT,

SUSTAINABLE BENEFITS.

Bio-Gen Biomass Power GenerationProjectCountry—Honduras: The project willdevelop a 10- to 15-megawatt biomasspower generation plant in Guaimaca,Honduras. Sawmill and loggingresidues, currently burned in anuncontrolled manner and left todecompose on the forest floor, will serveas the fuel source, making the use oftrees from plantations as a fuel sourceunnecessary and not cost-effective. Allpower produced by the plant will besold to the Empresa Nacional deEnergía Eléctrica, the utilityresponsible for generating,

BIOMASS POWER GENERATION

transmitting, and distributing mostelectricity in Honduras. When fullyfunded and implemented, the project isexpected to reduce CO2 emissions byapproximately 2,374,000 tonnes over21 years. Accepted December 19,1995.Participants: Add-On-Energy 1;Biomasa-Generación, S. de R.L.;International Utility EfficiencyPartnerships (Edison Electric Institute);Nations Energy Corporation, a subsidiaryof UniSource Energy.Project Contact: Ronald Shiflett,International Utility EfficiencyPartnerships, 1-202-508-5507.

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El Hoyo-Monte Galan GeothermalProjectCountry—Nicaragua: The project willdevelop a privately owned and operatedgeothermal powerplant. A 70-megawattplant will be constructed and isexpected to come on line by 2001. Afinal-stage upgrade of the plant to 105megawatts may be constructed in2004. The facility is designed to meetthe demand for increased electricitysupply in Nicaragua, and will useflashed steam technology with hot

GEOTHERMAL POWER GENERATION

water brought from a reservoir by deepwells. When fully funded andimplemented, the project is estimatedto reduce GHG emissions by morethan 14.1 million tonnes of CO2 overthe lifetime of the project. AcceptedDecember 19, 1995.Participants: C and R, Inc.; Trans-Pacific Geothermal Corporation.Project Contact: Ellen Margron, Trans-Pacific Geothermal Corporation,1-510-763-7812.

REFORESTATION “A CTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED

JOINTLY” (AIJ) REFERS TO A

PILOT PHASE LAUNCHED IN

BERLIN IN 1995 BY THE FIRST

CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

TO THE U.N. FRAMEWORK

CONVENTION ON CLIMATE

CHANGE IN WHICH BOTH

DEVELOPING AND

INDUSTRIALIZED PARTIES CAN

PARTICIPATE JOINTLY IN

PROJECTS THAT REDUCE GHG

EMISSIONS.

The Klinki Forestry ProjectCountry—Costa Rica: The projectanalyzes the carbon emissions ofhomeowners, small organizations, andbusinesses in the U.S., and establishesspecialized tree plantings in Costa Ricato offset those emissions. Cooperatingfarmers provide land and long-termmanagement in return for financialincentives provided by emitters toestablish Greenhouse Gas MitigationCertificates, issued and guaranteed bythe Costa Rican Government,documenting the actual carbonsequestered. A 40-year contract withfarmers allows them to thin their foreststo maintain the health and productivityof the stand, while the carbonsequestered is registered in the name ofthe U.S. entity.

The Klinki Carbon-Offset Forest is amixture of native and naturalizedspecies, a fast-growing stand whichproduces high-grade industrial wood.Products made from thinnings, such as

utility poles and plywood, continue thestorage of sequestered carbon in use.

The project also works with schoolsin Connecticut, educating studentsabout global warming and raising fundsto offset school emissions throughestablishing Klinki Carbon-OffsetForests. Students strive towardsestablishing a “Carbon-BalancedCommunity.”

This 40-year demonstration projectis designed to offset 7.2 million tonnesof CO2 on 6,000 hectares, involvinghundreds of small U.S. emitters andC.R. farmers. Accepted December 19,1995.Participants: Farmers in Costa Rica, TheCantonal Agricultural Center ofTurrialba, Yale School of Forestry andEnvironmental Studies, USDA ForestProducts Laboratory, Schools, emitters, andother donors in the U.S.Project Contact: Dr. Hester Barres,Reforest The Tropics, Inc. (A nonprofitorganization), 1-860-572-8199.

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RUSAGAS: Fugitive Gas CaptureProjectCountry—Russian Federation: Theproject plans to reduce fugitivemethane emissions, improveoperational efficiency, and seal valves onthe main pipelines that are contiguousto the Storozhovskaya and Pallasovskayacompressor stations, Saratov andVolgograd oblasts, Russia. The GHGbenefits of the project can be directlymeasurable and will reduce methaneemissions equivalent to 31 milliontonnes of CO2 over the 25-year life ofthe project, if fully funded. The project

METHANE GAS CAPTURE

will evaluate technological, operational,and institutional opportunities forreducing methane emissions in thenatural gas production andtransmission system of Russia.Accepted December 19, 1995.Participants: GAZPROM; Oregon StateUniversity; Sealweld Corporation;Southern California Gas Co.; SustainableDevelopment Technology Corporation;U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;VOLGOTRANSGAS; YUGTRANSGAS.Project Contact: Ted S. Vinson, Ph.D.,P.E., Oregon State University, 1-541-737-3494.

Tierras Morenas Windfarm ProjectCountry—Costa Rica: The project isconstructing a 20-megawattpowerplant consisting of 32 NEGMicon 750/44 750-kilowatt windturbine generators. Studies indicate thesite has a very strong wind resourcesufficient to support economical windenergy. The project is estimated togenerate 76 gigawatthours annually,displacing 30-megawatt thermal unitsthat burn high-sulfur diesel fuels,bunker oils, and IFO 180 fuels. Theproject is projected to reduce CO2


“N INE OF THE TEN HOTTEST YEARS

SINCE THE MEASUREMENTS BEGAN

HAVE COME IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

THE TREND IS CLEAR. THE HUMAN

CONSEQUENCES—AND THE ECONOMIC

COSTS—OF FAILING TO ACT ARE

UNTHINKABLE .”VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE

THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE ON

CLIMATE CHANGE

CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

DECEMBER 8, 1997

KYOTO, JAPAN

emissions by more than 57,000 tonnes.Electricity generated will be sold to theCosta Rican Institute of Electricity(ICE). The facility is projected to beoperational in July 1999. AcceptedDecember 19,1995.Participants: Aero Generacion de CentroAmerica S.A.; Costa Rican Ministry ofEnvironment and Energy; Energia GlobalInternational, Inc. (EGI); Molinos deViento del Arenal, S.A., andInternational Wind Corporation.Project Contact: Mike Skelly,EGI, 011-506-290-0796.

9


The BEL/Maya Biomass PowerGeneration ProjectCountry—Belize: The project involvesthe installation and operation of an18-megawatt waste-to-energypowerplant adjacent to a sugar mill inthe community of Orange Walk innorthern Belize to be fueled bysugarcane bagasse, orange processingwastes, and wood waste from sawmillsand other nearby sources. Circulatingfluidized bed combustion technologywill be used at the plant. By displacingdiesel oil-fired power generation withwaste biomass fuel (that would reverteventually to CO2 in any case), theproject would reduce utility CO2

emissions by as much as 3.4 milliontonnes over its projected 30-year life.

The project will help reduce thepower supply deficit in Belize, increasethe economic efficiency of one of thecountry’s principal export industries,and use biomass wastes that are oftenincinerated in open piles or disposed ofimproperly. Accepted December 6,1996.Partners: e-prime, Inc., a subsidiary ofPublic Service Company of Colorado;e-prime (Belize), Ltd.; InternationalUtility Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.(IUEP); Belize Electricity, Ltd.Project Contact: Ronald Shiflett, Jr.,IUEP, 1-202-508-5507.


The Bio-Gen Biomass PowerGeneration Project Phase II, SabaSiteCountry—Honduras: The project willlocate a 15-megawatt biomass-fueledsteam powerplant 15 kilometers west/northwest of the city of Saba,Honduras. The plant will be ownedand operated by Biomasa-Generacionfor the purpose of generating electricalpower for sale to ENEE (EmpresaNacional de Energia Electrica), theprimary utility responsible for thegeneration, transmission, anddistribution of electricity in Honduras.By displacing diesel-fired powergeneration with biomass fuel obtainedfrom waste from the forest productsand palm oil industries, the project

participants estimate it will reduce CO2

by as much as 2.3 million tonnes overits projected 20-year life.

The collection and controlledburning of biomass for the project willalso eliminate current disposal methodsof palm and wood wastes thatcontaminate local air and waterresources and increase the threat offorest fires. Accepted December 6,1996.Partners: Biomasa-Generación, S. deR.L.; International Utility EfficiencyPartnerships, Inc. (IUEP); Nations EnergyCorporation, a subsidiary of UniSourceEnergy.Project Contact: Ronald Shiflett, Jr.,IUEP, 1-202-508-5507.


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District Heating Improvementsin ZelenogradCountry—Russian Federation: Thisproject will upgrade a portion of thedistrict heating system for the city ofZelenograd to provide more reliable,higher quality service with lessconsumption of natural gas. If fullyimplemented, the project has thepotential to reduce GHG emissions bymore than 1.5 million tonnes of CO2

over the estimated 30-year life of theproject. The reduction would resultfrom the installation of heat exchangers,pumps, control valves, and related

instrumentation and control circuitryat 28 substations within the city’sdistrict heating system. AcceptedDecember 6, 1996.Partners: City of Zelenograd; Consortiumfor Integrated Resource Planning at theUniversity of Wisconsin; Johnson Controls,Inc.; Leonardo Academy, Inc.; RussiaEnergy Savings Fund.Project Contact: Patrick Cronin, JohnsonControls International, Inc.,1-414-274-4148; Michael Arny,Leonardo Academy, Inc., 1-608-250-0400.

DISTRICT HEATING IMPROVEMENTS

THE “U NITED STATES INITIATIVE

ON JOINT IMPLEMENTATION”

(USIJI) IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT

ENCOURAGES ORGANIZATIONS IN

THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES

TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS THAT

REDUCE, AVOID, OR SEQUESTER

GHGS. THE UNITED STATES

ANNOUNCED THE USIJI

IN OCTOBER 1993 AS PART OF ITS

NATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE

ACTION PLAN.

Aeroenergía Wind Facility ProjectCountry—Costa Rica: The projectplans to develop a 6.4-megawattprivate power wind facility using 16Micon Model 750-400-100-kilowattlatest generation wind turbines. Thefacility began operating in July 1998.Electricity generated by the facility willbe sold to the Costa Rican Institute ofElectricity (ICE) and will displaceelectricity currently generated byburning fossil fuels.


The project is expected to reduce CO2

emissions by more than 26,000 tonnesover a 21-year period. AcceptedDecember 19, 1995.Participants: Aeroenergía, S.A.,EnergyWorks; Power Systems, Inc.;Bluefields International.Project Contacts: Joseph Viroslav, PowerSystems, Inc., 1-214-879-6555;Salomon Lechtman, Aeroenergia, S.A.,011-506-227-4555.

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The Noel Kempff M. Climate ActionProjectCountry—Bolivia: This land-useproject is located in the province ofVelasco, Department of Santa Cruz,Bolivia, and stretches to the border ofBrazil. It combines elements of parkexpansion, protection, regeneration,and development of sustainable forestproduct enterprises. Component Ainvolves the cessation of loggingactivities on 631,908 hectares andexpansion of an existing park toencompass these and other adjoininglands totaling 817,846 hectares.Component B will establish income-generating activities that will be used topreserve and protect the entire1,523,446 hectares of park land. Theincome-generating activities include anendowment fund, commercialization oforchids and other products, and anecotourism program. Component Cwill extend mitigation activities beyond

the boundaries of the park byestablishing environmentallysustainable economic opportunities forlocal populations. The projectdevelopers estimate that Components Aand B will sequester approximately 54million tonnes of CO2 over the 30-yearproject lifetime.

The project is located in anenvironmentally sensitive area. Theenvironmental benefits of the projectare substantial and include protectionof biodiversity and habitat, water andair quality improvements, and soilconservation. Accepted December 6,1996.Partners: American Electric PowerCompany, Inc. (AEP); BP America;Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza(FAN); PacifiCorp; The NatureConservancy (TNC).Project Contact: Tia Nelson, TNC,1-703-841-5372.

SUSTAINABLE LAND USE

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Reforestation of Chiriqui ProvinceCountry—Republic of Panama: Theproject involves the reforestation ofdegraded pasture land in the ChiriquiProvince in western Panama. Theproject plans to plant 500 hectareswith teak (Tectona grandis) with anestimated net sequestration of 57,000tonnes of CO2 over the 25-year lifetimeof the project, if fully funded andimplemented. The sustainablymanaged teak plantation is expected to

yield a stream of high-qualityhardwood for furniture production,providing a substitute for unsustainablyharvested natural forest hardwoods.

The plantation is also expected toreduce soil erosion from grazing andcropping and will increase wildlifehabitat. Accepted December 6, 1996.Partners: CAOBO, Inc.; Center forClean Air Policy.Project Contact: Guillermo Suescum,CAOBO, Inc., 1-212-684-4064.

REFORESTATION

“C ARBON SEQUESTRATION”

REFERS TO THE CAPTURE OF CO2

IN A CARBON SINK (SUCH AS THE

OCEAN) OR A TERRESTRIAL SINK

(SUCH AS FORESTS OR SOILS) SO

AS TO REMOVE IT FROM THE

ATMOSPHERE, AND THUS, MITIGATE

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT.

Reforestation in VologdaCountry—Russian Federation: Thisproject plans to convert 2,000 hectaresof active hayfield to natural forests in alocation adjacent to the Russky SeverNational Park in the Vologda region.Approximately 1,100 hectares arelocated within the borders of thenational park, but they are notconsidered part of the park. Thesehayfields would be taken out ofproduction and the area allowed to

regenerate. The estimate of above- andbelow-ground carbon sequestration isapproximately 878,000 tonnes of CO2

over the 60-year life of the project.Accepted December 6, 1996.Partners: Center for EnvironmentalEconomics, Moscow; Environmental andEconomic Consulting; Vologda RegionDepartment of Natural Resources.Project Contact: Alice LeBlanc,Environmental Financial Products, LLC,1-202-261-1366.

REFORESTATION

13


Project Salicornia :Halophyte Cultivationin SonoraCountry—Mexico: This is ademonstration project on 30 hectares ofland (in Phase I) to cultivate a nativehalophyte (a salt-tolerant euphorbplant, Salicornia bigelovii) in a coastaldesert region of northwest Mexico. Thecrop could provide a valuable source ofbiomass material, food, and incomefrom land unsuited to other humanpurposes. The developers estimate theproject will sequester more than 3,000

tonnes of CO2 by increasing soilorganic matter and long-term storage ofCO2 in the low-carbon desert soils. Agreatly expanded Phase II of the projectis in the planning stages but has notyet been submitted to the USIJI.Accepted December 6, 1996.Partners: Econergy InternationalCorporation (EIC); Genesis, S.A. de C.V.;Halophyte Enterprises, Inc. (HEI); SaltRiver Project (SRP); Planetary DesignCorporation (PDC).Project Contact: Roy Hodges, PDC,1-602-912-9887.

BIOMASS CULTIVATION

Forest Conservation—Bilsa ReserveCountry—Ecuador: World ParksEndowment, Inc., will implement aforest preservation project with thesecond largest Ecuadorianenvironmental NGO, Fundación JatunSacha, which has successfully managedforest reserves in the EcuadorianAmazon and the highlands. Theproject will add 2,000 hectares oftropical forest to the alreadyestablished 2,000 hectares comprisingthe Bilsa Reserve in the Montanas deMache in the Esmeraldas province ofnorthwest Ecuador. The developersestimate that the project site will storeapproximately 1,170,000 tonnes of

CO2 that would otherwise be lostbecause of land conversion. The Pacificcoast wet forest where the reserve islocated has suffered extremely highdeforestation rates. The project willprotect a forest area that is extremelyrich in biodiversity and is underimminent threat of deforestation.

Jatun Sacha will manage the reservefor ecotourism and research purposes.Accepted February 26, 1997.Partners: Fundación Jatun Sacha; WorldParks Endowment, Inc.Project Contact: Byron Swift, WorldParks Endowment, Inc., 1-202-939-3808.

FOREST CONSERVATION

14


Scolel Té—Sustainable LandManagement and CarbonSequestration, ChiapasCountry—MexicoThe Scolel Té project is ademonstration of sustainable forestryand agroforestry (tree/crop system)management practices in nine Mayanindigenous communities, in the humidlowland and drier hill forest-croplandmosaics of northeast Chiapas. About2,400 hectares of farmers’ andcommunal lands have been identifiedby the villagers as suitable for improvedpractices chosen by farmers throughtheir rural agricultural credit union.Plans call for a 3-year start-up phase,then 27 years of social, economic,environmental, and carbon benefits,totaling 1,210,000 tonnes of CO2 iffully funded and implemented. ScolelTé seeks to develop a model fordelivering technical assistance from theproject coalition and for deliveringincome from investors seeking potentialGHG reduction benefits to farmerswho increase carbon sequestration on

their lands. It also is developingprotocols for the administration,monitoring, and evaluation of larger-scale land use sequestration programsfor low-productivity lands in southernMexico, through its strong research andmonitoring components. Projectactivities should help conservebiodiversity, and reduce humanmigration to the critical Lacandonforest frontier undergoing deforestation.Accepted February 26, 1997.Partners: American Forests; EconergyInternational Corporation (EIC); ElColegio de la Frontera Sur; IEAGreenhouse Gas R&D Programme;International Carbon SequestrationFederation; Unión de Crédito Pajal;University of Edinburgh; CounterpartInternational.Project Contact: John Paul Moscarella,EIC, 1-202-822-4980; Gerry Gray,American Forests, 1-202-955-4500ext. 217; Tony DiNicola, CounterpartInternational, 1-202-296-9676,ext. 519.

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

“T ECHNOLOGY COOPERATION”

MAKES AVAILABLE ENERGY

EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES AND

PROCESSES DEVELOPED BY

INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS TO LESS

INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS. THIS

COOPERATION MAY BE CONDUCTED

THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF

PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS OR MAY

INVOLVE GOVERNMENTS AND

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

15


Carbon Sequestration ThroughReduced Impact LoggingCountry—Indonesia: The project willimplement reduced impact logging(RIL) techniques to reduce GHGemissions associated with loggingpractices in East Kalimantan,Indonesia. RIL will be introduced on600 hectares of forest land within theKiani Lestari and Inhutani privatelogging concessions in EastKalimantan, on the island of Borneo.The forests are lowland dipterocarp rainforest, have not been previouslyharvested, and are not denselypopulated. The project will includedeveloping guidelines and proceduresfor implementation of RIL techniques,providing on-site training, andimplementing the techniques on the600 hectares. Some logging operationsin the tropics damage a much higherproportion of the forest than the treesthat are harvested. However, it isestimated that logging damage to theremaining biomass can be reduced byas much as 50 percent throughprecutting vines, directional felling,and planned extraction of timber onproperly constructed and utilized skid

trails. Project developers estimate thatthis project will generate cumulativesavings of more than 134,000 tonnes ofCO2 over the 40-year life of the project.

As heavily damaged residual forestsyield little timber and, therefore, are athigh risk of conversion to other uses,RIL techniques help preserve existingbiodiversity. RIL techniques also reducethe susceptibility of the forest to weedinfestations that reduce biomassrecovery rates and reduce thesusceptibility to destructive fires.Furthermore, by reducing the amountof forest canopy that is opened up,there are fewer ill effects on understoryplants and animals because of changesin temperature, light intensity, windspeed, and moisture. Accepted March24, 1997.Partners: The Association of IndonesianForest Concession Holders (APHI); theCenter for International Forestry Research(CIFOR); COPEC, a jointimplementation project developer; theKiani Lestari and Inhutani IIconcessionaires; Ministry of Forestry for theRepublic of Indonesia.Project Contact: Don Justin Jones,COPEC, 1-626-799-9059.

REDUCED IMPACT LOGGING

16


SELCO—Rural Electrification ProjectCountry—Sri Lanka: This project isdesigned to market and install 812,000solar home systems in Sri Lanka as analternative to the use of kerosene lampsfor lighting and the use of diesel-electric charging of lead-acid batteriesfor powering small home appliances.The project will build on successfulpilot efforts in Sri Lanka to demonstrateand install solar home systems, obtainconsumer financing, and providetechnical assistance to ruralhomeowners who lack access to theelectricity grid. Each solar system willconsist of a 12-volt photovoltaic panel,

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION

battery, and charge controller as well ascompact fluorescent lamps andhardware. The systems will provideelectricity for lighting, radio, andtelevision services. If fully financed andimplemented, the project is estimatedto reduce GHG emissions by 5.6million tonnes of CO2. AcceptedOctober 15, 1997.Partners: Renewable Energy ServicesCompany of Asia, Ltd.; Solar ElectricLight Company (SELCO); Trexler andAssociates, Inc.Project Contact: Dr. Mark Trexler,Trexler and Associates, Inc., 1-503-786-0559.

Rural Solar Electrification ProjectCountry—Bolivia: This project intendsto finance and install photovoltaic unitsof 48–55 watts in 400 households inthe two Departments of Bolivia, Oruroand Chuquisaca, which are not servicedby the national electricity grid system.The photovoltaic units will be used forresidential lighting and will reduceCO2 emissions by replacing diesel wicklanterns. When implemented, theproject is estimated to reduce GHGemissions by 1,300 tonnes of CO2. Theproject is intended to test thecommercial feasibility of photovoltaictechnology in rural areas of Bolivia. If

SOLAR ELECTRIFICATION

successful, this project could lead to asecond, much larger project. AcceptedOctober 15, 1997.Partners: Center for SustainableDevelopment in the Americas (CSDA);Empresa Eléctrica Guaracachi S.A.(EGSA—an affiliate of GPUI, Inc.);General Public Utility International,(GPUI) Inc. (an independent powerprovider); National Rural ElectricCooperative Association (NRECAInternational, Ltd.); the Prefectures ofOruro and Chuquisaca.Project Contact: James Torpey, GPUI,Inc., 1-973-263-6376; AnneHambleton, CSDA, 1-202-588-0155.

“G REENHOUSE GASES” (GHG S) ARE

CONSTITUENTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

WHICH HAVE A MAJOR EFFECT ON THE

EARTH’S RADIATIVE HEAT BALANCE —BY

IMPEDING OUTGOING LONGWAVE

RADIATION, THEY WARM THE EARTH’S

SURFACE. GHGS INCLUDE CARBON

DIOXIDE (CO2), METHANE (CH4),

NITROUS OXIDE (N2O), AND

CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS).

WATER VAPOR IS ALSO A GHG.

OBSERVED INCREASES IN THE

ATMOSPHERIC CONCENTRATIONS OF

THESE GHGS OVER THE PAST CENTURY

HAVE RESULTED FROM LAND-USE

CHANGE, THE RELEASE OF CFCS FROM

REFRIGERATORS AND AIR

CONDITIONERS, AND THE BURNING OF

FOSSIL FUELS SUCH AS GASOLINE, OIL,

COAL , AND NATURAL GAS.

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RENEWABLE POWER GENERATION

APS/CFE Renewable EnergyMini-Grid ProjectCountry—Mexico: The project involvesthe development of a hybrid powersupply system that will use solar, wind,and diesel capacity to replace a 205-kilowatt diesel generator in the town ofSan Juanico, Baja California Sur State,Mexico. The hybrid system will extendthe availability of electrical service fromthe current 3–4 hours per day to 24hours per day. The project is scheduledto be operational in December 1998.

The project has the potential to reduceGHG emissions by more than 7,000tonnes of CO2 over the 30-year projectlifetime. Accepted March 19, 1998.Partners: Arizona Public ServiceCompany (APS) of Phoenix, Arizona;Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE),the Mexican national utility; NiagaraMohawk Power Corporation (NMPC) ofSyracuse, New York.Project Contact: Dr. C.V. Mathai,Arizona Public Service Company,1-602-250-3569.

LAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

Community Silviculture inSierra Norte, OaxacaCountry—Mexico: This project willimprove existing silviculture and forestprotection activities in six communitiesin rural southern Mexico through forestrestoration and improved forestmanagement, increased agriculturalefficiency, and increased wood useefficiency over 49,027 hectares of land.The project will build on and supportlocal community-based efforts toexpand and utilize forests in asustainable manner over the 30-year lifeof the project. If fully funded andimplemented, an estimated 3,065,000

tonnes of CO2 will be sequestered.Accepted March 19, 1998.Partners: Consejo Civil Mexicano para laSilvicultura Sostenible, A.C. (CCMSS);Econergy International Corporation(EIC); Estudios Rurales y AsesoríaCampesina, A.C. (ERA); Fideicomiso deRecursos Naturales de la Sierra Norte deOaxaca; Secretaría del Medio Ambiente,Recursos Naturales y Pesca (SEMARNAP);Unión de Comunidades Ixlán-Etla,Oaxaca (IXETO); Union deComunidades Zapoteco-Chinantecas(UZACHI).Project Contact: Edward Hoyt, EIC,011-525-563-4280.

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District Heating Renovation, LytkarinoCountry—Russian Federation: Theproject will employ energy efficiencytechnologies to rehabilitate andmodernize the central heating system ofLytkarino, Russia. The system, whichserves a population of 53,000, willundergo improvements to the boilerhouse and central heating points,municipal and public service buildings,and the housing stock. If fully fundedand implemented, the total GHGbenefits of the project are estimated at


District Heating EfficiencyImprovements, MetallurguicheskyDistrict of CheliabinskCountry—Russian Federation: Thisproject plans to upgrade the centralheating system of theMetallurguichesky District ofCheliabinsk, Russia, which serves apopulation of 144,500. Energyefficiency improvements have beenidentified for the heat distributionsystem, public buildings, residentialhousing stock, and boiler houses.Potential GHG benefits of the project

are estimated at 828,000 tonnes ofCO2 over the 10-year life of the project.Accepted March 19, 1998.Partners: Administration of Oblast andMetallurguichesky District of Cheliabinsk(the municipal government); BattelleMemorial Institute/Pacific NorthwestNational Laboratory (PNNL), the Centerfor Energy Efficiency (CENEf) inMoscow.Project Contact: Susan Legro, BattelleMemorial Institute/PNNL,1-202-646-7861.


486,000 tonnes of CO2 over the 10-year project lifetime. Accepted March19, 1998.Partners: Administration of the City ofLytkarino (the municipal government);Battelle Memorial Institute/PacificNorthwest National Laboratory (PNNL);the Center for Energy Efficiency (CENEf)in Moscow.Project Contact: Susan Legro, BattelleMemorial Institute/PNNL,1-202-646-7861.

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“S USTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”

REFERS TO THE NEED TO BALANCE THE

SATISFACTION OF NEAR-TERM

INTERESTS WITH THE PROTECTION OF

THE INTERESTS OF FUTURE

GENERATIONS, INCLUDING THEIR NEED

FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY

ENVIRONMENT. AS EXPRESSED BY THE

1987 U.N. WORLD COMMISSION ON

ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

(THE “B RUNDTLAND COMMISSION”),

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT “ MEETS

THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT

COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF

FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET

THEIR NEEDS.”

The Guguletu Eco-Homes ProjectCountry—South Africa: This projectplans to construct energy-efficient Eco-Homes in the community of Guguletu,Republic of South Africa. TheGuguletu Eco-Homes Project wouldminimize emissions through the use ofpassive solar construction, which candecrease a home’s space-heatingrequirements by 50 to 70 percent.Additional environmental benefitsinclude a reduction in the use ofkerosene stoves, resulting in anabatement of local air pollution andimproved indoor air quality. Byproviding training for members of thecommunity in each phase of theconstruction, the project would alsoprovide economic benefits throughcapacity building and technologytransfer. The estimated life of theproject is 50 years, and carbon benefitsare estimated to be 13,000 tonnes ofCO2.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Housing expansion is key component ofthe U.S.—South African BinationalCommission headed by Vice PresidentAl Gore and South African VicePresident Thabo Mbeki. The Eco-Homes project would provide for theconstruction of up to 6,000 houseswith energy-efficient features, helpingto fulfill the commission’s efforts todesign and build energy-efficienthomes. These homes would provide ahigher quality alternative to standardhomes now offered and would also beeligible for the low-income housingsubsidy offered by the Reconstructionand Development Program (RDP).Accepted July 14, 1998.Participants: The International Institutefor Energy Conservation of Washington,D.C.; PEER Consultants, P.C., ofMaryland; and the Community ofGuguletu, Republic of South Africa.Project Contact: Kelly Gordon, IIEC,1-202-842-3388, ext. 508.

The Santa Teresa HydroelectricProjectCountry—Guatemala: This projectinvolves the construction of ahydroelectric dam that will generateelectricity by a non-GHG-emittingrenewable resource, thereby displacingthe combustion of fossil fuels used ingenerating electricity and reducingGHG emissions. The Santa TeresaHydroelectric project is estimated toreduce GHG emissions by a total of

1.2 million tonnes of CO2 over a 15-year project life. Plant size and waterflow rates indicate that the facility willbe operational 50 percent of the time.Participants: The Center for SustainableDevelopment in the Americas (CSDA);Agropolochic S.A.; Energia GlobalInternational (EGI).Project Contact: Anne Hambleton,Center for Sustainable Development in theAmericas, 1-202-588-0155.


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ENERGY EFFICIENCY

METHANE GAS CAPTURE

The CAPSA ProjectCountry—Argentina: The projectinvolves the conversion of six gasturbines from simple-cycle tocombined-cycle operation at the Capexpowerplant in the province of Neugen,Argentina. Converting the turbines tocombined-cycle operation results in anincrease of 185 megawatts in powergenerated by the plant through the useof waste energy, without increasing fuelconsumption. This increased capacitywill displace other, more expensivefossil capacity, resulting in emissions

reduction. The total GHG benefits ofthe 185 megawatts of additional powerachieved with no increase in fuelconsumption are estimated at roughlybetween 16.5 and 33 million tonnes ofCO2 over the project’s 30-year lifetime.Participants: El Paso EnergyInternational Company; the InternationalUtility Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.(Edison Electric Institute); Capex, S.A.Project Contact: Ronald Shiflett,,International Utility EfficiencyPartnerships, 1-202-508-5507.

Landfill Gas Management in GreaterBuenos AiresCountry—Argentina: This projectinvolves development of gas collectionand combustion systems at landfillsowned and operated by CoórdinacionEcológia Area Metropolitana, Sociedaddel Estado (CEAMSE), a regionalgovernment agency serving the GreaterBuenos Aires area in Argentina. Becauselandfill gas is approximately 50 percentmethane, combustion of landfill gasresults in a significant reduction inmethane through oxidation of themethane to CO2. It is estimated that ifall gas generated by 5 million tonnes of

waste deposited annually in theCEAMSE landfills is collected andcombusted, the project could result inan emission reduction of 4 milliontonnes of CO2-equivalent per year. Onthe basis of a nominal 20-year projectlifetime, this would result in 80 milliontonnes of CO2-equivalent averted.Participants: Pacific Energy Systems, Inc.(PES); Coórdinacion Ecológia AreaMetropolitana, Sociedad del Estado(CEAMSE).Project Contact: Daniel Jones, ProjectManager, Pacific Energy Systems, 1-503-227-7611.

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The Mantanzas Hydroelectric ProjectCountry—Guatemala: This is a 14-megawatt, medium-head hydroelectricproject located in Baja Verapaz,Guatemala, with powerplants locatedon both the Chilasco and San IsidroRivers. This project will reduce GHGemissions through the use ofhydroelectric power to displaceelectricity that would otherwise havebeen generated by fossil-fuel-firedthermal plants or diesel power. TheMatanzas project is estimated to reduceemissions by more than 1.1 milliontonnes of CO2 over a 15-year projectlife. The output of the two plants will

be sold to Guatemala’s national electricutility, the Instituto Nacional deElectricidad (INDE). The project isexpected to begin operation in January2000. Developers have designed adetailed environmental managementplan to mitigate the impacts of theproject on the fauna and flora of thesurrounding area.Participants: The Center for SustainableDevelopment in the Americas (CSDA);and Tecnoguat, S.A.Project Contact: Anne Hambleton,Center for Sustainable Development in theAmericas, 1-202-588-0155.

Wind Energy ProjectCountry—Chile: The project involvesthe construction of a 37.5-megawattwind energy facility near the city ofCalama, in the desert region ofAntofagasta in northern Chile. Thefacility will include 50 wind turbines,each of which is rated at 750 kilowatts.The developers anticipate that theproposed wind facility will meet aportion of the high growth inelectricity demand and will offsetelectricity generated from a mixture offuel sources including coal. Whenimplemented, this project will lead to

reductions of about 3 million tonnes ofCO2 over the project lifetime of 20years. This project would be the firstsignificant energy generation project inChile to use a renewable resource otherthan hydro.Participants: International Institute forEnergy Conservation (IIEC); CorporaciónNacional del Cobre de Chile(CODELCO).Project Contact: Kelly Gordon,International Institute for EnergyConservation,1-202-842-3388,ext. 508.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,PLEASE WRITE OR VISIT USIJI AT:

The USIJI Secretariat1000 Independence Avenue, SW

PO–6/GP–196Washington, DC 20585 USA

Telephone: 1-202-586-3288

Fax: 1-202-586-3485 or 3486


This project fact sheet has not been subject to technical or policy review;hence, it does not necessarily represent the views of any government or intergovernmental body.

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USIJI PROJECT - Enersol · usiji project march 1999 fact sheet usiji projects the u.s. i nitiative on joint implementation (usiji) is proud to profile 36 accepted projects that offer