Harness river flows, cut emissions: hydropower for the grid
Uri II Hydroelectric Project, India
The Uri II Hydroelectric Project in India aims to feed renewable run-of-river electricity into the national grid and thereby displace fossil-based power generation.
By supplying hydropower to the grid, Uri II replaces electricity that would otherwise—within the Indian power system—often come from fossil-fired plants. This means greenhouse gas emissions are avoided in the first place; the climate impact is generated as avoided emissions in the power sector.
The plant is designed as long-term infrastructure: it uses the natural flow of the river (run-of-river) for continuous electricity generation and reflects its climate impact through a clearly defined monitoring and calculation approach. In this way, the project combines renewable power generation with traceable, verifiable emission reductions—transparently documented and technically safeguarded under the project standard.
Technical project data – VCS1424
Key facts about the hydropower project at a glance.
| Parameter | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project location | India; Jammu & Kashmir; Baramulla District; near Uri, on the Jhelum River | Project Description, p. 3 (Section 1.9) |
| Project type | Grid-connected hydropower project (run-of-river) for electricity generation | Project Description, p. 3 (Section 1.2) |
| Project standard | Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Version 3 | Project Description, p. 1 (cover: “VCS Version 3”) |
| Project developer | NHPC Limited | Project Description, p. 3 (Section 1.3) |
| Installed capacity | 240 MW (4 × 60 MW) | Project Description, p. 3 (Section 1.1) |
| Technology / approach | Run-of-river hydropower: use of the Jhelum River flow to generate electricity and feed into the grid | Project Description, p. 3 (Sections 1.1 / 1.2) |
| Expected annual generation | approx. 1,083.31 MU/year (≈ 1,083 GWh/year) | Project Description, p. 3 (Section 1.1) |
| Project start / commissioning | Commissioning date: 25/09/2013 | Project Description, p. 3 (Section 1.4) |
| Crediting period | 10 years, renewable; start: 25/09/2013 (up to 2 renewals possible) | Project Description, p. 3 (Section 1.6) |
| Baseline scenario | Electricity supplied via the grid without the project; emissions are based on the existing grid mix (displacement logic) | Project Description, p. 16 (Section 2.4) |
| Methodology | ACM0002 – Grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources (Version 15) | Project Description, pp. 13–14 (Section 2.1) |
| Project status | VCS project with documented verifications (example: 2024 verification report) | Final Verification Report (31/07/2024), pp. 1–3 (VVB/verification) |
| Verified emission reductions (example) | 7,997,421 tCO₂e for monitoring period 29/09/2014–31/08/2020 | Final Verification Report (31/07/2024), p. 1 (Summary / Quantity) |
| Main impact mechanism | Avoidance of CO₂ emissions through grid injection of renewable hydropower and displacement of conventional electricity generation | Project Description, pp. 13–16 (Sections 2.1–2.4) |
| Monitoring & verification | Monitoring of relevant data (electricity quantities) in line with the methodology; independent verification by an accredited body (VVB) | Final Verification Report (31/07/2024), pp. 1–3 |
| Additionality | Additionality is argued, inter alia, via barrier/financial analysis and sensitivity analyses (IRR) | Additionality |
| Project lifetime / long-term nature | Financial assumption: project lifetime of 35 years (for IRR/financial analysis) | Project Description, p. 20 (Section 3.3.2) |
| Permanence & risk management | Technical avoidance of emissions over the plant’s operating life; “permanence” as in forest projects is not applicable—key is operation, monitoring, and verification | Derived from project type + verification logic: Project Description (methodology/monitoring) pp. 13–16; Final Verification Report (31/07/2024), pp. 1–3 |
| Carbon credit rating | No external, independent carbon credit rating is indicated for the project | Not indicated in the available project/verification documents (Project Description; Final Verification Report 2024) |
| Carbon credit rating type | No external classification (e.g., BeZero/Sylvera) is indicated | Not indicated in the available project/verification documents (Project Description; Final Verification Report 2024) |
| Article 6 authorization (Paris Agreement) | No Article 6 authorization indicated in the available documents | Not indicated in the available project/verification documents (Project Description; Final Verification Report 2024) |
| CCP status (ICVCM) | No CCP classification indicated in the available documents | Not indicated in the available project/verification documents (Project Description; Final Verification Report 2024) |
| No CCP classification indicated in the available documents | The verification process includes declarations/checks on separation from other GHG programmes and avoidance of double claiming | Final Verification Report (31/07/2024), p. 2 (Undertaking / No double claiming) |
| Contribution to national climate strategy (context) | Contribution to emission reductions in India’s power sector through renewable grid injection; no Article 6 accounting indicated | Project Description, p. 3 (power generation/grid context) + “no Art. 6 information”: not indicated in the documents |
What the project can contribute
Here we summarise what Uri II delivers in practice – and why it matters for the climate.
- 1
Bring renewable electricity into the grid
Uri II generates run-of-river hydropower and feeds it into the grid. This adds renewable generation exactly where electricity would otherwise often be supplied by conventional sources.
- 2
Displace fossil-based power generation
The climate impact is driven by displacement: every MWh of hydropower injected into the grid replaces electricity from the existing baseline grid mix – avoiding the emissions that would otherwise occur in the power sector.
- 3
Provide reliable generation as part of the energy mix
As a hydropower plant, Uri II supplies electricity continuously throughout operation, supporting a more stable power supply – and complementing weather-dependent renewables such as solar and wind.
- 4
Anchor long-term infrastructure in ongoing operation
The project is designed for long-term operation. Its climate impact is not a one-off effect, but accumulates over years through continuous electricity generation and solid plant management.
- 5
Secure measurability and traceability
Generation and grid injection are captured as monitoring data, and emission reductions are calculated using an approved methodology. The results are independently reviewed/verified under the VCS process – ensuring the climate impact is robustly documented.
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Global climate relevance
Climate impact counts worldwide
Greenhouse gases have a global effect. Avoided emissions from the power sector contribute to stabilising the climate system regardless of where they are reduced.
Decarbonisation where electricity demand is high
Renewable grid injection is particularly relevant in power systems where fossil generation still plays a major role – because displacement effects can be especially climate-effective there.
Renewable generation with system value
Hydropower can contribute as a reliable renewable source to stabilising the electricity mix, thereby supporting the integration and expansion of additional renewables in the system.
Long-term emission avoidance through long-lived assets
As an infrastructure project, Uri II delivers impact over long time horizons: every operating hour with renewable grid injection means avoided emissions compared to the baseline grid mix – continuously, not sporadically.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The relevant and the complementary contributions
Beyond avoiding greenhouse gas emissions, Uri II primarily strengthens the supply of renewable electricity in the power system. By injecting grid-connected hydropower, the project supports emission reductions in the energy sector. The most significant contributions are to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Other goals are supported in a complementary way; some can be classified as marginal contributions.
Uri II generates renewable electricity from run-of-river hydropower and feeds it into the grid. In doing so, the project expands the energy mix with a reliable renewable source and supports the supply of cleaner electricity.
Contribution:
The project delivers renewable, grid-connected hydropower electricity, thereby strengthening the supply of clean power within the energy system.The climate impact is achieved through avoided emissions in the power sector: hydropower electricity displaces electricity that, under the baseline scenario, would come from the existing grid mix. Emission reductions are quantified under ACM0002 based on the amount of electricity supplied to the grid and are transparently documented through the VCS process.
Contribution:
Avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions by supplying renewable hydropower electricity to the grid and displacing conventional power generation.As an infrastructure project, Uri II strengthens energy infrastructure by adding renewable generation capacity and operating the plant on a long-term basis.
Contribution:
Contribution to expanding renewable energy infrastructure through a long-lived hydropower plant with grid-connected electricity generation.The construction, operation and maintenance of a hydropower plant require staff, supply chains and technical services. These effects are supportive, but they are not the project’s core purpose.
Contribution:
Support for employment and economic activity linked to operation, maintenance and infrastructure management in the energy sector.A more stable and diversified electricity supply can indirectly improve security of supply. However, the project does not directly target urban development.
Contribution:
Indirect support for security of supply through additional renewable grid injection – without an explicit urban focus.
How CO₂ savings are generated
Emissions in the power sector primarily occur when electricity is generated from coal, gas, or oil. A hydropower project like Uri II addresses exactly this point: it generates renewable electricity and feeds it into the grid. As a result, part of the electricity that would otherwise have been produced conventionally no longer needs to be generated.
The CO₂ savings are determined by comparing two scenarios: what would have happened without the project (the baseline) and what actually happens with the project in place. Without Uri II, the same amount of electricity would typically be supplied by the existing grid mix. With Uri II, that amount is added as hydropower. The difference corresponds to the avoided emissions.
To convert this into CO₂ credits, the amount of electricity generated and supplied to the grid is measured continuously and converted into emission reductions using a recognised methodology (ACM0002). This calculation is based on documented monitoring data and is then independently reviewed. Only after this verification are the emission reductions issued as credits and recorded in the registry.
Context and transparency
The Uri II hydropower project is registered under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and is subject to regular monitoring and independent verification by accredited validation/verification bodies. The reported emission reductions are based on documented monitoring data (in particular, the amount of electricity generated and fed into the grid) and are quantified using a recognised methodology for grid-connected renewable electricity generation. Only on the basis of audited monitoring and verification reports are the emission reductions issued as credits and listed in the registry.
Legally robust CO₂ compensation — backed by reliable data and clear claim logic
CO₂ compensation is no longer a “nice to have.” Anyone using terms such as CO₂ compensated, CO₂ neutral, or climate neutral is under far greater scrutiny today: stricter requirements for environmental claims, more critical stakeholders, and rising expectations for transparency. What matters is not the claim itself, but the quality of evidence behind it.
A legally robust approach starts with a solid foundation: we prepare your Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) and—where products are concerned—your Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) in line with international standards. This creates the data basis for sustainability reporting (e.g. VSME) and for communication built on verifiable facts rather than assertions.
When it comes to CO₂ compensation itself, three points are key to minimising greenwashing risk:
- Transparent methodology: clear accounting boundaries, sound project logic, and traceable impact mechanisms
- Independent assurance: monitoring, verification, and registry management under recognised standards
- Clear communication: precise terminology, no overpromising, and unambiguous statements on “what” was compensated and “how”
This turns CO₂ compensation into a professionally and transparently positioned component of CO₂ management—supported by guidance on project selection, documentation, and claim-secure wording for websites, proposals, and reporting.