If you're an Indigenous community looking to start carbon farming projects on your land, we can help.
We can walk you step-by-step through the process so that you can start running your projects yourself, or we can manage them on your behalf. Whatever you decide, it's important to understand the information you'll need to gather, develop and understand before we can apply to the Clean Energy Regulator to register your project.
We can walk you step-by-step through the process so that you can start running your projects yourself, or we can manage them on your behalf. Whatever you decide, it's important to understand the information you'll need to gather, develop and understand before we can apply to the Clean Energy Regulator to register your project.
DOES your land qualifY for carbon farming?
First we work with our partner, Market Advisory Group (MAG) to establish if your land qualifies for carbon farming by conducting an online assessment of your land. This process includes using existing information on vegetation to see if your land qualifies for carbon farming.
Land excluded from carbon farming projects includes land that:
· has had forest cover at any stage during the last ten years
· has current forest cover
· does not have the capacity to support vegetation
Once we have confirmed whether your land qualifies for carbon farming, MAG will then calculate the estimated carbon sequestration potential. If the outcome of this calculation is positive and the volume of carbon sequestration is sufficient to proceed, it's time for the landholder to decide whether to take the next step towards project registration.
Land excluded from carbon farming projects includes land that:
· has had forest cover at any stage during the last ten years
· has current forest cover
· does not have the capacity to support vegetation
Once we have confirmed whether your land qualifies for carbon farming, MAG will then calculate the estimated carbon sequestration potential. If the outcome of this calculation is positive and the volume of carbon sequestration is sufficient to proceed, it's time for the landholder to decide whether to take the next step towards project registration.
developing a project management plan
The next step in the process is to use the information collected during the initial phase and develop a project management plan for your site. The plan includes:
· the planned eligible project activities
· a timeframe for the implementation of the eligible activities
· a short summary of how each activity will sequester carbon.
· the planned eligible project activities
· a timeframe for the implementation of the eligible activities
· a short summary of how each activity will sequester carbon.
the PROJECT registration process
Once we've established the eligibility of a project and created a project management plan, we will register your project with the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) and obtain their approval for your project to go ahead.
The process is completed online through the CER client portal. The documents we will prepare and upload for you include:
· the final project outline
· eligibility summary
· project management plan
· statutory declaration
· evidence of the minimum baseline period
· written consent of the landowners
· project location description
· geographic mapping of the project boundary
· evidence of your established legal right to carry out the project and claim Australian Carbon Credit Units
The process is completed online through the CER client portal. The documents we will prepare and upload for you include:
· the final project outline
· eligibility summary
· project management plan
· statutory declaration
· evidence of the minimum baseline period
· written consent of the landowners
· project location description
· geographic mapping of the project boundary
· evidence of your established legal right to carry out the project and claim Australian Carbon Credit Units
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET APPROVAL?
The Clean Energy Regulator is required by law to approve projects within no more than 90 business days.
However, the CER considers this to be 90-days from a completed application. Therefore, if the CER identifies that further information is required, it will re-start the 90-day turnaround time upon receipt of all required information.
Therefore, all information must be prepared before submitting a project application.
On average, it takes 30 business days to obtain approval. However, the CER assesses applications on a first-come, first-served basis. This is not divided into types of application. Therefore, a project registration will be queued alongside applications for ACCUs or applications to vary the scope of a project.
However, the CER considers this to be 90-days from a completed application. Therefore, if the CER identifies that further information is required, it will re-start the 90-day turnaround time upon receipt of all required information.
Therefore, all information must be prepared before submitting a project application.
On average, it takes 30 business days to obtain approval. However, the CER assesses applications on a first-come, first-served basis. This is not divided into types of application. Therefore, a project registration will be queued alongside applications for ACCUs or applications to vary the scope of a project.
estimating and assessing project volumes
It is important to note that the CER does not estimate the volume of a project when registering a project.
However, to register a project, the CER must be convinced that the project will create at least one ACCU. It is up to us to work together to assess projected ACCU volumes and conduct feasibility studies.
However, to register a project, the CER must be convinced that the project will create at least one ACCU. It is up to us to work together to assess projected ACCU volumes and conduct feasibility studies.
what happens next?
As soon as a project is approved, the project can begin in line with the requirements under the savannah burning methodology. This includes:
· start project activities before the end of the first reporting period
· change land management practices
· ensure that you are keeping the required records
· ensure the eligible interest holder consent process has concluded before the end of the first reporting period
· start the process of obtaining eligible interest holder consent from banks, state governments and Indigenous groups.
It is important to note that each group will respond within different timeframes, and it can take up to 2-3 years to secure all consents. We will start this process as early as possible.
· start project activities before the end of the first reporting period
· change land management practices
· ensure that you are keeping the required records
· ensure the eligible interest holder consent process has concluded before the end of the first reporting period
· start the process of obtaining eligible interest holder consent from banks, state governments and Indigenous groups.
It is important to note that each group will respond within different timeframes, and it can take up to 2-3 years to secure all consents. We will start this process as early as possible.
applying for australian carbon credit units
When a carbon farming project has generated carbon abatement, the next step is to apply for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).
To support our application for ACCUs and to demonstrate that the abatement generated by a project is genuine, we submit a project offset report and, if required, an independent audit of that offset report.
Once our application for ACCUs has been approved, they can be sold. If you have a carbon abatement contract, you can sell them to the Clean Energy Regulator, or you can find a buyer on the secondary market.
To support our application for ACCUs and to demonstrate that the abatement generated by a project is genuine, we submit a project offset report and, if required, an independent audit of that offset report.
Once our application for ACCUs has been approved, they can be sold. If you have a carbon abatement contract, you can sell them to the Clean Energy Regulator, or you can find a buyer on the secondary market.