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GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2010 INDUSTRY


GREENHOUSE GAS METHODOLOGY FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY


WSP Environment & Energy was retained by Vessels Coal Gas, a coal mine methane utilisation project developer, to develop a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction method for abandoned coal mines. The approach allows project developers to reduce fugitive methane emissions occurring at abandoned and decommissioned coal mines all over the world and sell the resulting carbon offsets.


The baseline and monitoring methodology was proposed to the Verifi ed Carbon Standard (VCS), and passed the double approval process, having been independently assessed by two validation consultants in 2010. The scope of work involved proposing a revision to an existing Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) methodology, ACM0008, which is applicable only to active coal mine methane destruction projects. The approved revision includes a new baseline emissions determination procedure based on an approach used by the US Environmental Protection Agency to estimate annual methane emissions from abandoned coal mines for purposes of compiling the national greenhouse gas inventory. The methodology element extends the applicability of ACM0008 to abandoned


coal mine destruction projects under the VCS. Since coal mines continue to emit methane many years after active mining has ceased, this methodology will allow developers to reduce large volumes of emissions and market the offsets.


WSP has continued to assist Vessels Coal Gas by applying this methodology to the Cambria 33 abandoned mine methane capture and use project located near Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. This project was registered in 2010 with the VCS and is


reducing CO2e by approximately 70,000 tonnes per year. At the project site, vent pipes on a mine shaft had previously been left open to allow methane to freely vent to the atmosphere as a safety measure. Without the venting, methane would tend to accumulate in the abandoned mine workings, which would have a greater potential for contributing to explosive events. Vessels is now capturing this previously freely venting methane and directing it to a gas treatment skid which cleans the gas to natural gas pipeline quality standards. At present, the project produces roughly 150 million standard cubic feet of natural gas per year, enough to heat 3,500 homes. Vessels is evaluating the potential to add electrical power generation capacity to the site as well.


This project is reducing CO2e by approximately 70,000 tonnes per year.





TRANSFORMING THE


AVIATION INDUSTRY Building on our sector-leading work in developing carbon neutral growth strategies for airport businesses, we have worked with ACI Europe to create Airport Carbon Accreditation. Designed in consultation with European airports and administered by WSP, this is the world’s fi rst sector-specifi c certifi cation programme.


Airport Carbon Accreditation comprises four progressively more demanding levels of certifi cation, and provides a framework for the recognition of achievements in the management of emissions sources under airports’ direct control, as well as emissions associated with third parties at the airport. Highlights of the programme’s successes during the fi rst two years of operation include:


• 43 airports accredited across the four levels, representing 43% of European air traffi c;


• Aggregate emissions reductions of over 700,000 tCO2 reported;


• The highest level - carbon neutrality - has been achieved by six airports, collectively offsetting over 80,000 tonnes residual ‘scope 1 & 2’ carbon dioxide.


Formally endorsed by the United Nations Environmental Programme, acknowledged by the European Commission, and with an ‘Advisory Board’ of aviation industry experts providing steering and guidance, the programme is having a signifi cant impact on the sector.


Further information is available on the Airport Carbon Accreditation website.


30 | WSP GROUP SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2010


EMBEDDING SUSTAINABILITY


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