PROJECT PROFILE · CERTIFICATE-BASED CLIMATE PROTECTION
Teesta Low Dam Project
The Stage IV run-of-river hydroelectric project is located on the Teesta River near Kalijhora in West Bengal. This page documents the technology, calculation methodology, registry status, and units – and separates the generated electricity from the modelled emission reduction.
SIKKIM, INDIA · REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE
Note: The photograph is for regional context. It is not from the project described and does not depict either the facility or any project impact. Photo: Ayush Paul / Pexels.
COUNTRY
India · West Bengal
Verra ID
VCS 1423
TECHNOLOGY
Run-of-river hydro · 160 MW
STATUS IN REGISTER
Registered
WHY THE CALCULATION MATTERS
The electricity is measurable. The avoided emission remains a methodological comparison.
The project feeds electricity into an interconnected grid. For the greenhouse gas balance, a calculation is made of which emissions the supplied amount of electricity would have caused in the reference scenario according to the applied methodology.
An issued unit therefore does not confirm that a specific coal- or gas-fired power station has been physically shut down. It is based on measured electricity generation, determined grid factors, accounted-for project emissions, and the verification of the respective monitoring period.
CONTENT
01 · Project profile
01 · PROJECT AT A GLANCE
The data pass for the project
The details refer to the publicly accessible Verra registry entry. Registry statuses, active units and documents are subject to change.
Teesta Low Dam Project, Stage-IV
India · West Bengal · Kalijhora Village, Darjeeling District
VCS 1423
NHPC Ltd
Energy industries (renewable/non-renewable sources) · ACM0002
Earthood Services Limited
Run-of-river power station · 160 MW · four Kaplan turbines with 40 MW each
720 MU of electricity according to the register description
14/02/2016 · 17/03/2016 · 14/02/2016–13/02/2026, Term 1
696,816 t CO₂e annually · 805,717 issued · 416,266 active · 389,451 retired · 0 cancelled
4 September 2026
Regarding the time period: The crediting period shown in the register ended on 13 February 2026. The project continues to be listed there as registered and shows active units. For a specific allocation, the vintage, serial numbers and current unit status are decisive.
02 · WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE REGISTER
A run-of-river power station with a dam and four turbines
The public registry description refers to a newly constructed run-of-river hydroelectric project on the Teesta. The facility utilises the flow of the river, impounding water behind a concrete gravity dam and converting the energy of the flow into electricity in the powerhouse.
01
carry water
A concrete gravity dam around 45 metres high regulates the waterway for power generation. Run-of-river power does not automatically mean that there is no impoundment or intervention in the watercourse.
02
Convert energy
Four Kaplan turbines, each with an installed capacity of 40 MW, drive the generators. The rated power describes the technical capacity, not the actual annual output generated.
03
Feed in electricity
The electricity generated is fed into the interconnected grid. For the emissions balance, the net amount of electricity determined according to the project rules in the respective monitoring period is what counts.
03 · HOW A UNIT IS CREATED
A calculated reduction is derived from the electricity volume and reference factor.
The ACM0002 is a consolidated methodology for grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources. The specific calculation is documented in the project and monitoring design documents.
01
Record net electricity
The quantity of electricity delivered to the grid in accordance with the project rules is determined for the monitoring period.
02
Determine grid reference
A methodologically determined emission factor reflects which emissions would be associated with the corresponding amount of electricity in the reference system.
03
Consider project emissions
Insofar as relevant to the methodology and project design, emissions attributable to the project are deducted from the calculated baseline emissions.
04
Check and issue
Following monitoring and independent verification, VCUs can be issued in the registry for the confirmed net reduction.
04 · ENVIRONMENT AND REGION
No fuel combustion on site does not mean: without further environmental impacts.
Hydroelectric power can provide electricity with comparatively low operational greenhouse gas emissions. However, the construction, water management, and location remain independent areas of consideration.
Electricity
Generation without ongoing combustion
The turbines do not require fossil fuel to generate electricity on site. It does not follow that the entire life cycle is emission-free.
WATERS
Water flow and continuity
Dams and reservoirs can affect flow, sediment transport, fish migration and local aquatic ecology. The type and extent must be assessed in the project-specific documentation.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Construction and land use
Concrete, construction work, access roads, pipes and the powerhouse involve the use of materials and local interventions. A VCS registration is no substitute for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment.
REGION
Supply and economic effects
Electricity generation and construction can make regional contributions. However, security of supply, employment or social improvements cannot be derived from this as a general rule for every VCU.
Obvious links exist with SDG 7 'Affordable and Clean Energy' and SDG 13 'Climate Action'. This classification is not a seal of approval and, on its own, does not prove comprehensive sustainability performance or the achievement of targets.
05 · FOR SUPPORTING COMPANIES
Active units in the register are not yet assigned to an enterprise.
Documented support is only established through the clear allocation and decommissioning of specific units. This includes:
01
Project name and Verra ID VCS 1423
02
allocated quantity in t CO₂e
03
Vintage or monitoring period
04
Write-off date and register reference
05
unique VCU serial numbers
06
Beneficiary or documented purpose
06 · CLASSIFICATION AND COMMUNICATION
What the support means – and what it doesn't
A voluntary climate contribution is presented separately from emissions within one's own value chain.
IT DOCUMENTS
IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN
a registered hydropower project with issued VCUs
a generally environmentally friendly or consequence-free power generation
an emission reduction calculated in accordance with ACM0002
a direct measurement of avoided CO₂ emissions or the shutdown of a specific power plant
measured electricity data and a methodical grid factor as a basis for calculation
that every kilowatt hour fed in exclusively replaces fossil fuel electricity
Technology, performance and project location
Security of supply, social impact or ecological safety
a decommissioning of specific units for a beneficiary
a reduction in one's own emissions
Project, standard, vintage, quantity and serial numbers
Climate neutrality of a product or company
07 · SOURCES AND RELEVANCE
The basis openly accessible
Project statuses, active units, decommissionings and documents are subject to change. The currently applicable register entry remains authoritative.
PRIMARY SOURCE
Verra Registry
VCS 1423 · Status, Units and Project Documents
STANDARD
Verified Carbon Standard
VCS Programme Rules and Requirements
NATUREOFFICE
Documentation Framework
General rules for voluntary climate contributions
TEST BENCH
4 September 2026
We are happy to answer any specific questions regarding project allocation, vintage, or available documentation.