Clean grid electricity from the Caribbean – Cumayasa Solar replaces fossil generation in the mix
Planta Solar Fotovoltaica Cumayasa 1 y 2, Dominican Republic
This solar project is registered under the Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG) and is regularly monitored and independently verified in accordance with the standard. The reported emission reductions are based on audited monitoring reports and the recognised methodology ACM0002, which is used to calculate emissions avoided through the supply of grid-connected solar power compared to conventional electricity generation within the grid.
By feeding solar-generated electricity into the grid, electricity from the existing grid mix can be displaced on a calculated basis — electricity that, without the project, would continue to be generated in part from emission-intensive fossil sources.
This is where the climate impact occurs: within the power system itself. The electricity actually supplied to the grid is metered and documented, allowing the resulting avoided emissions to be transparently and reliably quantified.
Emission reductions are calculated in accordance with the recognised ACM0002 methodology.
A project that demonstrates how large-scale solar energy can make a lasting contribution to a more climate-friendly electricity supply — as operating infrastructure, with a clear displacement logic and measurable impact through grid feed-in.
Technical project data – GS 12212
Key facts about the solar project at a glance
| Parameter | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project location | km 10 of Cumayasa (Cumayasa section), Municipality of Villa Hermosa, La Romana Province, Dominican Republic (coordinates / UTM polygon documented). | MR, A.2, pp. 6–8 |
| Project type | Grid-connected, large-scale solar PV project (Cumayasa 1 & 2). | FVR, Section 1.3, pp. 8–9 |
| Project standard | **Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG). | FVR, Title / Summary, pp. 1–3 |
| Project developer | Project Proponent: EFD Ecoener Fotovoltaica Dominicana, S.R.L. | MR, Key Project Information, p. 2 |
| Technology / approach | Two solar power plants (Cumayasa 1: 50 MW AC / 60.04 MWp; Cumayasa 2: 30 MW AC / 36.007 MWp); grid feed-in via the Cumayasa substation and a 138 kV interconnection line. | MR, B.1, pp. 12–13 |
| Baseline scenario | Without the project, electricity would be supplied by the national interconnected system (SENI); power generation would otherwise continue to rely in part on fossil-fuelled power plants. | MR, project description / baseline context, p. 5 |
| Methodology | ACM0002 – Grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources, Version 21.0.0. | MR, A.3, p. 11 |
| Project start date | Start of commercial electricity delivery / start of the crediting period: 06 September 2023. | MR, Table 3 (milestones), p. 5 |
| Crediting period | 06 September 2023 – 05 September 2028 (renewable crediting period, 5 years). | MR, A.4, p. 11 |
| Project status | Operational; first verification for the monitoring period 06 September 2023 – 31 March 2024 completed (issuance requested based on verified data). | FVR, Title / Summary, pp. 1–4 |
| Verified emission reductions | Emission reductions calculated based on measured grid feed-in; 69,330 tCO₂e verified for the first monitoring period. | FVR, Verification Summary, pp. 3–4 |
| Main impact mechanism | Displacement of emission-intensive grid electricity through measured feed-in of solar-generated electricity into the interconnected grid (calculated substitution within the grid mix). | MR, baseline / project description, p. 5 |
| Monitoring & verification | Continuous measurement (meters / SCADA) and documentation of grid feed-in; independent verification including desk review and on-site audit. | FVR, Scope / Summary, pp. 3–4 & 16 |
| Additionality | Addressed within the methodological and tool framework (incl. Tool for the demonstration and assessment of additionality, v07.0.0). | FVR, Summary (tools), p. 2 |
| Permanence & risk management | No physical permanence issues as in AFOLU projects; relevant risks mainly relate to measurement and data quality; meters are regularly calibrated and verified (every two years). | MR, metering / QA information, pp. 17–18 |
| Carbon credit rating | No external carbon credit rating (e.g. BeZero, Sylvera) indicated. | Project documentation |
| Article 6 authorisation (Paris Agreement) | No information provided in the available documentation. | Project documentation |
| CCP status (ICVCM) | No information provided in the available documentation. | Project documentation |
| Double counting safeguards | Statement confirming that the project is not registered under another carbon standard and that no parallel claims are made for the same period. | MR, project statement, p. 5 |
| Monitoring approach | Continuous data collection (hourly / daily via monitoring and SCADA systems); archiving of monitoring data until two years after the end of the crediting period. | MR, data collection & archiving, p. 18 |
| Project lifetime / longevity | Expected technical operating lifetime: 25 years; crediting period: 5 years (renewable). | MR, A.1 / B.1, pp. 4–5 |
| Contribution to national climate strategy | Contribution through expansion of renewable electricity generation, reduced dependence on imported fossil fuels, and strengthened security of supply. | MR, project context, p. 5 |
What the project can contribute
Here we summarize what the project is actually intended to achieve and which practical improvements it can enable.
- 1
Supplying renewable electricity in the region
Cumayasa 1 & 2 generates solar electricity and feeds it into the public grid of the Dominican Republic. This creates additional renewable generation capacity — where electricity is actually needed.
- 2
Replacing fossil-based electricity in the grid
Each kilowatt-hour of solar electricity fed into the grid can, on a calculated basis, replace electricity from the existing grid mix. This avoids emissions in the power sector — not in theory, but within the operating energy system.
- 3
Strengthening security of supply and local power infrastructure
As a large-scale installation, the project increases available generation capacity within the system. This supports a more stable electricity supply — particularly in an energy system that has so far been strongly shaped by conventional generation.
- 4
Embedding renewable energy for the long term
Solar energy is a proven, long-lived technology. The project demonstrates how renewable electricity generation can be durably integrated into a national power system — without fuels, without combustion, and with clear grid feed-in.
- 5
Enabling long-term climate impact
The installation is designed for long-term operation. Over many years, it can continuously supply renewable electricity and thereby avoid emissions in the power sector — as a recurring effect, not a one-off event.
Global climate relevance
Generating renewable electricity, reducing emissions
Cumayasa 1 & 2 produces solar electricity without fuels and feeds it into the public grid.
This allows conventional, emission-intensive power generation in the grid to be displaced on a calculated basis — with climate impact occurring directly within the power system, measurable through grid feed-in.
Climate impact within the energy sector
Globally, the power sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Each additional kilowatt-hour of renewable solar electricity helps reduce the fossil share of the electricity mix and supports the transformation of energy supply.
Long-term emission avoidance
Solar parks are infrastructure. As long as the installation delivers electricity, the effect occurs repeatedly: continuous feed-in of renewable energy — and ongoing avoidance of emissions that would otherwise occur in the grid.
Enabled by climate finance
Revenues from the climate finance market can help secure the economic viability of renewable energy projects during investment and operation.
This can support the earlier and more reliable availability of additional renewable generation capacity than would be possible without such support.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The relevant and the complementary contributions
In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Kishanganga hydropower project contributes to strengthening energy supply, lowering emissions in the power sector and supporting regional economic development. In doing so, the project supports several objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The most significant contributions are made to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Further goals are supported in a complementary or indirect way. Some SDGs are considered marginal contributions that are supportive in nature but not central to the project’s core purpose.
The project generates renewable solar electricity and feeds it into the public grid of the Dominican Republic.
This provides clean energy within an electricity system that, without such projects, would remain more strongly dependent on conventional generation.
Contribution:
Expansion of renewable electricity generation and support for security of supply.By feeding solar electricity into the grid, emission-intensive power generation can be displaced on a calculated basis.
The resulting emission reductions occur directly within the power sector and are transparently documented through measured grid feed-in.
Contribution:
Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through renewable electricity generation.Construction, operation and maintenance of the installation require technical services, maintenance processes and operational staff.
This creates regional employment effects — without being the project’s primary objective.
Contribution:
Temporary jobs during construction and recurring employment during operation and servicing.Large-scale solar plants constitute energy infrastructure.
The project supports the long-term integration of renewable energy into the electricity grid and thereby strengthens the expansion of modern power generation capacity.
Contribution:
Strengthening energy infrastructure and supporting grid integration of renewable generation.Solar electricity is generated without fuels and without combustion processes.
This eliminates resource-intensive fuel supply chains; the contribution remains indirect, as there is no direct influence on consumption patterns.
Contribution:
More resource-efficient energy production without fuel input.
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
This solar project is registered under the Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG) and is regularly monitored and independently verified in accordance with the standard. The reported emission reductions are based on audited monitoring reports and the recognised methodology ACM0002, which is used to calculate emissions avoided through the supply of grid-connected solar power compared to conventional electricity generation within the grid.
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