EXPOSURE DRAFT Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Biofilters) Methodology Determination 2015 I, Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, make the following determination. Dated [Date] Greg Hunt [DRAFT ONLY—NOT FOR SIGNATURE] Minister for the Environment Contents Part 1 —Preliminary 4 1 Name 4 2 Commencement 4 3 Authority 4 4 Duration 4 5 Definitions 4 6 References to factors and parameters from external sources 5 Part 2 —Landfill biofilter projects 6 7 Landfill biofilter projects 6 Part 3 —Project requirements 7 8 Operation of this Part 7 9 Requirements for a landfill biofilter project 7 10 Additionality requirements 7
A is the net abatement amount for the reporting period in tonnes CO2-e. n is the number of landfills in the landfill biofilter project over which abatement is measured for the reporting period. Al is the landfill abatement amount, in tonnes CO2-e, for landfill l of the landfill biofilter project, given by equation 2. 15 Landfill abatement amount (Al) For equation 1, Al is worked out using the equation (equation 2): where: AG,l is the gross abatement for landfill l, for the reporting period, in tonnes CO2e, given by equation 3. AB,l is the baseline abatement for landfill l, for the reporting period, in tonnes CO2e, given by equation 13. Division 3—Calculating the gross abatement (AG,l) 16 Summary Gross abatement is the amount of methane oxidised by the biofilters minus the amount of methane that would have been oxidised in the surface of the landfill. 17 Gross abatement (AG,l) For equation 1, AG,l is worked out using the equation (equation 3): where: MBio,NCT,l is the methane oxidised by the landfill biofilters of landfill l during the reporting period that was not generated from carbon tax waste, in tonnes CO2e, given by equation 4. MBio,Ox,l is the methane oxidised by the landfill biofilters of landfill l during the reporting period that was not generated from carbon tax waste and that, without the project, would have been oxidised in the near surface of the landfill, in tonnes CO2e, given by equation 12. 18 Methane oxidised by landfill biofilters that was not generated from carbon tax waste (MBio,NCT,l) For equations 3, 12 and 13, MBio,NCT,l is worked out using the equation (equation 4):
requirements, then hour h must be paired to measurements of WLFG,CH4. 2 Proportion of the volume of landfill gas that is methane Fraction Estimated under Division 2.3.6 of the NGER (Measurement) Determination using measurement criteria AAA in accordance with subsection (2). Frequency: (a) if used in equation 8— continuously. (b) otherwise— not required. Measured at the same conditions as QLFG,b,h For the purpose of equation 8, average values for a time interval not greater than 1 hour must be paired to measurements of QLFG,b,h for the same time interval. 3 Sb Surface area of biofilter b Square metres Either: measured through a surveyed site plan; or determined from drawing of the biofiltration system; or determined from design drawing of the biofiltration system endorsed by the biofilter design engineer or consultant. Frequency - immediately following construction, replacement or upgrade of the biofilter. For the purpose of equation 11, the most recent measurement of the area of the base of biofilter is used. 4 CAv,b,h and CMax,b,h CAv,b,h is the average concentration of methane near the surface of biofilter b. Parts per million The concentration of methane near the surface of biofilter b must be measured through a walkover survey of the biofilter. The survey must: Determine CAv,b,h as the average of all measurements undertaken during the walkover survey. Determine CMax,b,h as the maximum of
Note: Examples of action that may be taken include the following: (a) if the failure constitutes a breach of a civil penalty provision in section 194 of the Act (which deals with project monitoring requirements), the Regulator may apply for a civil penalty order in respect of the breach; (b) if false or misleading information was given to the Regulator in relation to the failure, the Regulator may revoke the project’s section 27 declaration under regulations or rules made for the purposes of section 38 of the Act; (c) if the giving of false or misleading information in relation to the failure led to the issue of Australian carbon credit units, the Regulator may require all or some of those units to be relinquished under section 88 of the Act.
Sx is the surface area of the landfill that is cover type x, in square metres. Cx is the permitted methane flux rate for the landfill for cover type x, in tonnes of methane per square metre per hour, set out the applicable table in subsection (2) or (3). x is the type of landfill cover, being either final cover area or intermediate cover area. (2) The following table sets out permitted methane flux rates for final cover areas. Permitted methane flux rates for final cover areas (Cx) Item State or Territory Methane concentration limit (CH4 ppm) Permitted methane flux rate estimated from the methane concentration limit (tCH4/m2/hr) 1 New South Wales 500 2.5 x 106 2 Victoria 100 0.3 x 106 3 Queensland 500 2.5 x 106 4 Western Australia 500 2.5 x 106 5 South Australia n/a n/a 6 Tasmania 500 2.5 x 106 7 Australian Capital Territory 100 0.3 x 106 8 Northern Territory n/a n/a (3) The following table sets out permitted methane flux rates for intermediate cover areas. Permitted methane flux rates for intermediate cover areas (Cx) Item State or Territory Methane concentration limit (CH4 ppm) Permitted methane flux rate estimated from the methane concentration limit (tCH4/m2/hr) 1 New South Wales 500 2.5 x 106 2 Victoria 100 0.3 x 106 3 Queensland 500 2.5 x 106 4 Western Australia 500 2.5 x 106 5 South Australia n/a n/a 6 Tasmania 500 2.5 x 106 7 Australian Capital Territory 100 0.3 x 106 8 Northern Territory n/a n/a 6 Annual amount of methane permitted to be emitted from daily/operational cover For equation 16, MReg,D,l is equivalent to parameter MGen,l,y, in tonnes CO2e, given by section 19, where: (a) the calculation is based only on the waste sited vertically below the daily cover/operational area; and