Work Areas

Getting climate-neutral

Our service: We independently check your CO2 footprint / the greenhouse gas of your organization and thus strengthen your credibility.

We have summarized our expertise in a verico guide for a carbon footprint management system, which you are welcome to obtain free of charge from us. German version is available, Englisch version is in progress.

  1. Objectives of the German national climate protection programme in order to achieve the social goals.
  2. verico criteria catalogue for greenhouse gas compensation based on raised standards – including promotion of regional renewable energy plants
  3. verico services around the topic

1. With effect from August 30st 2021, the Federal Government of Germany has once again raised the national targets for the climate protection programme by 2030 – instead of 55%, 65% less greenhouse gases are to be emitted.

This is done within the framework of the international climate targets decided in the Paris Climate Agreement.

With this clear social objective, it is also clearly foreseeable that the economy will be increasingly challenged, i.e. by law, to make its contribution to climate protection on the way to national, European and global climate neutrality. From the point of view of industrial and commercial companies, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that additionally customers, employees and other stakeholders (such as the financial market) are increasingly paying attention to whether a company takes measures to meet its responsibility towards people and the environment.

A necessary tool for companies on the way to climate neutrality is an energy or climate management system.

Contents and aspects are:

  1. The company prepares a CO2 balance sheet.
  2. A carbon footprint management system continuously records and controls the relevant data and processes
  3. Continuously reducing greenhouse gas emissions 4.. Have greenhouse gas reports verified (independently) 5.. Use CO2 balance sheets for dialogue with all relevant stakeholders

We have summarized our expertise in a verico guideline for a carbon footprint management system, which you are welcome to obtain free of charge from us. Please feel free to contact us at office@verico.eu.

2. verico – Catalogue of criteria for greenhouse gas compensation according to raised standards – including promotion of regional renewable energy plants

SWM (municipal utility of Munich) offers the product “M/Kompensation Plus”. This product is intended to enable customers to offset their own greenhouse gas footprint through the use of commercially available CO2 certificates (CDM, Gold Standard, Verra). For this purpose, every ton of CO2eq emissions of the customer is “neutralized” by a corresponding certificate worth 1 t CO2eq. In addition, the customer participates in the promotion of additional renewable energy plants for a surcharge on each certificate,

  1. whose operation would be uneconomical after expiry of the EEG subsidy without further funding, which would possibly lead to a shutdown (so-called Ü20 plants), or
  2. in the case of new installations which would also be uneconomical without additional support due to specific plant characteristics, provided that this support is decisive for their construction and commissioning.

The product name “M/Kompensation Plus” is derived from the combination of the use of CO2 certificates and the promotion of renewable energy plants. In addition, C02eq compensation from international CO2 certificates is to be combined with an additional contribution to regional CO2eq reduction. In order to make this additional funding transparent for customers, verico SCE has developed a catalogue of criteria together with SWM. On the basis of these criteria, the subsidised plants, the additional CO2eq savings generated and the amount of electricity generated from the subsidised plants are checked at the end of each year and certified to customers who have purchased an “M/Compensation Plus” product.

This independent review in accordance with the verico criteria catalogue SWM guarantees the customer that he is acquiring a reliable, traceable product which – in addition to the usual CO2eq compensation on the market – promotes the generation of renewable energy from renewable energy plants.

The introduction and use of this standard thus contribute to the creation of added value in the neutrality of the greenhouse gas balance of the compensation customer and the promotion of local energy generation plants. The standard specifies requirements for the processes that are necessary for customer transparency. Furthermore, requirements for the quality of the data are defined, which are included in the balancing and the presentation of the added benefit. Certifications based on this standard are pure system certifications on a voluntary basis. Energy supplies or other energy products of Stadtwerke München or affiliated companies that have been tested on the basis of the standard cannot be declared certified or climate-neutral due to the certification.

The certification process does not include the greenhouse gas balance of the compensation customer and the completeness of the neutralization of this balance sheet through the acquisition of “M/Compensation Plus”. “

Are you interested in the described catalogue of criteria for Stadtwerke München? Feel free to contact us now at office@verico.eu

3. verico services around the topic

As verico SCE, we support companies on their way to climate neutrality, as your independent partner for the verification of your CO2 footprint.

Complementary services that we as verico SCE offer around this topic

In addition, we have summarized our expertise in a verico guide for a carbon footprint management system, which you are welcome to obtain free of charge from us.

As an independent testing body, which is authenticated in accordance with ISO 14065:2013, we are excluded from the reporting process.

As part of the verification process, we take a critical look at reporting processes and data and point out current weaknesses.

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Fuel Emissions Trading Act

On January 1st in 2021, the National Emissions Trading System (nEHS) was launched in Germany, in which all fuel distributors are obliged to participate.

Those who are affected must determine their CO2emissions, purchase a corresponding amount of CO2-certificates and submit them to the national emissions trading register of the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt). This is regulated by the Fuel Emissions Trading Act (SESTA), which was adopted at the end of 2019 with the Climate Protection Package of the Federal Government.

In order to achieve the reduction targets set by the Climate Protection Package 2030, the SESTA introduces CO2 pricing of emissions, especially in the areas of heating and transport. The aim is to create economic incentives to promote the use of climate-friendly technologies, energy saving and the use of renewable energies.

Our corresponding services: We verify your emission reports as an accredited testing body

Do you have any questions? You can reach us by email at: office@verico.eu

Foto: Pixabay.com / Pedalkraft

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Capacity Building MRV

“Capacity building” in the area of MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) means developing knowledge, skills, commitment, structures, systems and leadership qualities to enable effective climate protection policies and their monitoring of success.

Capacity building in the area of MRV, broadly speaking, involves the development of institutional resources, legal requirements and individual knowledge and skills needed to successfully fulfill tasks for monitoring and reducing climate-damaging greenhouse gases, to achieve results, to address problems and to find solutions and make informed decisions. The measures should in principle be based on the question “Capacity for what?” and should be based on the articulated demand of the persons concerned and the direct applicability of the course content. Capacity-building projects, especially for MRV of greenhouse gas emission, should therefore involve both policy-makers and implementing authorities, potential service providers, verification and accreditation organizations, educational institutes, trainee experts and local stakeholders.

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Energy Management Systems

With the ISO 50001 energy management standard, companies and other organizations can increase their energy efficiency systematically and continuously. The standard refers to factors that can be influenced by the company and can be adapted to individual requirements.

The achievable cost reductions strengthen the competitiveness of companies. Systematic energy management is used in many companies worldwide. Good energy management shows where energy saving potentials are. The consistent use of such potential reduces operating costs and increases competitiveness. Energy management influences organizational and technical processes as well as behaviors. Thus, from an economic point of view, it lowers the total energy consumption of the company (including the energy required for production) and the consumption of basic and additional substances and continuously improves the company’s energy efficiency.

An energy management system systematically records the energy flows. It helps in the decision to invest in energy efficiency. A well-functioning energy management system enables a company to comply with energy policy commitments and to continuously improve its energy performance through a systematic approach. It includes the necessary organizational and information structures including the tools required for this purpose. An energy management system will design and execute energy policy (including strategic and operational objectives and action plans), planning, implementation and operation, monitoring and measurement, control and correction, internal audits and regular management review. (Source: www.umweltbundesamt.de)

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Emission reduction projects

For the global climate, it does not matter where greenhouse gases are reduced. Every reduction benefits the global climate as a whole. Unavoidable emissions can therefore be compensated elsewhere – for example in certified climate protection projects. If a buyer is prepared to pay a price for the resulting emission reductions, this approach can provide an incentive for investments, e.g. create climate-friendly technologies or reforestation projects.

Various carbon markets and climate protection programs use this approach, especially to involve the private sector as an investor. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) proved to be extremely successful in the years 2005 – 2012, when the EU Emissions Trading System accepted certificates to offset emissions from its EU member states industrial facilities.

CORSIA is an instrument designed to compensate for emissions from global aviation. Starting in 2020, emission reduction projects within the scope of CORSIA aim to neutralize the growth of CO2 emissions from aviation.

With the recognition of so-called upstream emission reductions, the European Fuel Quality Directive specifically targets the fuel trading sector as an investor in emission reduction projects. These must be upstream of the refineries, and usually concern energy efficiency projects in terms of oil production or the prevention of flaring of natural gas in the oil fields.

Another demand for emission reduction certificates can be found in the voluntary market. This allows organisations to promote itself or its products to the general public or particular customer groups by demonstrating carbon neutrality and highlighting its climate policy commitments. Companies calculate the emissions arising from their activities or associated with particular products and offset these by purchasing and retiring emission certificates. A number of special carbon offsetting standards are used, tailored to particular situations.

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Emissions Trading

Emissions trading based on a “cap & trade” system has proved to be an effective climate policy instrument, especially with appropriate certificate prices. Since 2005, this approach has been applied to much of the industry in the EU and it is being introduced elsewhere in more and more countries.

An upper limit is set for the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted by the affected industrial plants. The upper limit is reduced over time so that the total emissions decrease.

Within the cap, companies receive or buy emission allowances that they can trade when needed. Limiting the total number of available certificates ensures that they have a value.

Every year, a company has to have its emissions from the previous year reported and verified, and has to cancel a corresponding number of certificates. Otherwise, high fines will be imposed. If a company reduces its emissions, it can keep the surplus allowances to meet its future needs, or sell them to another company that lacks the certificates.

Trade brings flexibility, which ensures that emissions are reduced where costs are lowest. A robust carbon price also encourages investment in clean, low-carbon technologies.
(Based on ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets_en)

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