Hydroelectric Project in Kinnaur District in Himachal Pradesh
Hydropower at Satluj in Kinnaur
Between Karcham and Wangtoo, the project harnesses the power of the Satluj River to generate renewable electricity. Four turbines with 250 MW each feed into the North Indian grid. The run-of-river power plant with a small reservoir was fully commissioned in 2011.
Technical project data – VCS1734
Key facts about the solar project at a glance.
| Parameter | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project location | Mauritania; Toujounine region near Nouakchott | Project Description, Section 1.8 |
| Project type | Grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) project for renewable electricity generation | Project Description, Section 1.3 |
| Project standard | Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) | VCS Program |
| Project developer | AERA Group (in cooperation with SOMELEC, the national electricity utility) | Project Description, Sections 1.4 & 1.5 |
| Installed capacity | 50 MW solar PV | Project Description, Section 1.1 |
| Technology / approach | Large-scale solar PV plant with grid feed-in | Project Description, Section 1.1 |
| Baseline scenario | Electricity generation from a fossil-based grid mix (primarily gas oil and heavy fuel oil) | Project Description, Baseline Description |
| Methodology | ACM0002 – Grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources (Version 17.0) | Monitoring Report, Section 1.9 |
| Project start | Electricity export to the grid since November 2017 | Project Description, Section 1.6 |
| Crediting period | 10 years, fixed (07 Nov 2017 – 06 Nov 2027) | Monitoring Report, Section 1.7 |
| Project status | Registered and regularly verified VCS project | VCS Registry |
| Annual emission reductions | Project-specific per monitoring period; e.g. 37,018 t CO₂e in the year 2024 | Verification Report, Summary |
| Main impact mechanism | Avoidance of CO₂ emissions through displacement of fossil-based electricity generation | Project Description |
| Monitoring & verification | Regular monitoring of electricity supplied to the grid and independent verification by accredited VVBs | Monitoring & Verification Reports |
| Additionality | Economic attractiveness and implementation supported by revenues from the carbon market | Project Design Document, Additionality |
| Permanence & risk management | Technical emission avoidance over the lifetime of the solar installation; no physical permanence required | Energy project type |
| Carbon Credit Rating | Currently no external, independent carbon credit rating published | No published ratings |
| Carbon Credit Rating Type | No project-specific external assessment available (e.g.No project-specific external classification disclosedBeZero, Sylvera, Calyx) | – |
| Article 6 Authorization (Paris Agreement) | No authorization under Article 6 disclosed | Verra Registry |
| CCP Status (ICVCM) | Currently no CCP classification published | ICVCM |
| Management of Double Counting Risks | Clear allocation and registration of emission reductions within the VCS registry | VCS Rules |
| Monitoring Approach | Measurement of electricity fed into the grid using calibrated meters and SCADA systems | Monitoring & Verification Reports |
| Project Lifetime / Long-term Design | Long-term forest conservation project with renewable Long-term infrastructure project with a fixed crediting period periods | VCS Project Details |
| Contribution to National Climate Strategy | Contribution to emission reductions in the power sector without national accounting under Article 6 | Project Documentation |
What the project can contribute
Here we summarize what the project is actually intended to achieve and which practical improvements it can enable.
- 1
Directly displacing fossil-based electricity generation
The solar project feeds renewable electricity into Mauritania’s national power grid. In doing so, electricity generated from gas oil– and heavy fuel oil–based power plants is replaced, preventing emissions from occurring in the first place.
- 2
Avoiding emissions in the power sector
The climate impact results directly from the generation of solar electricity. Every kilowatt-hour supplied reduces greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise arise from conventional electricity generation.
- 3
Providing renewable energy reliably
Over its technical lifetime, the installation continuously delivers electricity from solar energy. This contributes to stabilising and diversifying the electricity supply.
- 4
Strengthening structures for clean energy
As a large-scale solar project, it demonstrates how renewable electricity generation can be implemented under local technical and economic conditions. This supports the expansion of renewable energy within the country.
- 5
Safeguarding long-term climate impact
Monitoring, independent verification, and clear operation and maintenance concepts ensure that emission reductions are transparently documented and secured over the long term.
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Global climate relevance
Avoiding fossil emissions rather than shifting them
By feeding solar electricity into the national power grid, emissions-intensive power plants based on gas oil and heavy fuel oil are displaced. Emissions are prevented from occurring in the first place — a direct contribution to global emission avoidance.
Climate impact beyond the project region
Electricity generation is a major driver of global greenhouse gas emissions. Every tonne of CO₂ avoided affects the global climate regardless of where the reduction takes place. The project therefore delivers a measurable contribution to the stabilisation of the global climate system.
Structural change in the energy sector
Expanding renewable energy in countries with a strongly fossil-based power mix has a particularly strong leverage effect. The project demonstrates how solar energy can be deployed at scale even under challenging framework conditions.
Enabled by climate finance
The implementation and long-term safeguarding of the project are supported by revenues from the carbon market. These revenues help enable investment, secure operation and monitoring, and accelerate the expansion of renewable energy.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The relevant and the complementary contributions
Beyond the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions, the solar project in Mauritania contributes to the expansion of renewable electricity generation, strengthens energy supply, and reduces dependence on fossil energy sources. In doing so, the project supports several objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). The most significant contributions are made to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). Additional SDGs are addressed in a complementary or indirect manner. Some goals are considered marginal contributions, as they are not part of the project’s core focus.
The project feeds renewable electricity into the national grid and contributes to diversifying Mauritania’s energy mix. It strengthens access to clean electricity generation at the system level.
Contribution:
Expansion of renewable electricity generation and reduction of dependence on fossil energy sources.By generating solar electricity, emissions-intensive power generation from gas oil– and heavy fuel oil–based power plants is displaced. The resulting emission reductions occur directly within the power sector and affect the global climate regardless of where they are achieved.
Contribution:
Avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions through the replacement of fossil-based electricity generation.The construction, operation, and maintenance of the solar installation create jobs and build technical expertise within the energy sector. These economic effects are supportive but not the project’s primary objective.
Contribution:
Support for local employment and economic activity in the energy sector.As a large-scale, grid-connected solar project, the installation contributes to the development of modern energy infrastructure and serves as a reference for further renewable energy projects.
Contribution:
Strengthening of energy-related infrastructure and technical capacity.A more stable electricity supply indirectly supports energy security in urban areas such as Nouakchott. However, the project does not have a direct focus on urban development.
Contribution:
Indirect support for urban energy security without an explicit urban focus.
How CO₂ Savings Are Generated
Clean electricity from renewable energy projects replaces fossil-based power. The emissions avoided through this shift can be measured and form the basis for issuing carbon credits.
Renewable power changes the overall energy mix: every kilowatt hour produced by wind, solar or hydropower reduces the need for electricity from coal, gas or oil.
The amount of CO₂ emitted per kilowatt hour varies by country and by fuel type. These official grid emission factors make it possible to calculate how much CO₂ would have been released without the renewable energy project.
For each project, the expected fossil share is compared with the clean electricity actually delivered. The difference shows the verified emission reductions — the real CO₂ savings. These values are reviewed by independent auditors, updated regularly, and form the certified basis for carbon credits.
Context and transparency
The solar energy project in Mauritania is registered under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and is subject to regular monitoring and independent third-party verification. The reported emission reductions are based on verified monitoring reports and recognised methodologies for calculating avoided emissions from fossil-based electricity generation.
The project exemplifies climate action in the land-use sector by linking forest protection with measurable climate impact. Its approach is transparently documented, technically verifiable and designed for long-term conservation.