I-DEV0446: Deviation from the registered monitoring plan for parameter “Quantity of run-off water” (Qww,runoff)

During verification of the emission reductions reported for the first monitoring period of the registered CDM project activity 1108 (Golden Hope Composting Project – Merotai), DNV identified a deviation from the monitoring plan for the project. The monitoring period is from 14 December 2007 to 31 December 2010. The deviation from the registered monitoring plan (contained in the PDD registered on 14 December 2007) is with respect to the quantity of run-off water (Qww,runoff). The monitoring plan in the registered PDD states that this parameter is to be monitored and recorded monthly by a flow meter. However, Qww,runoff has not been monitored via flow meter in the months of June and August in 2009 and in the months of May 2010 and from 1 – 21 June 2010 due to flow meter malfunction. For the months where Qww,runoff is not monitored and recorded by a flow meter, Qww,runoff is determined as the total amount of palm oil mill effluent (POME) (Qww,untreated) applied to the compost area for the period and the total amount of rainfall in the compost area for the period as follows:

Qww,runoff = Qww,untreated (m3) + [rainfall in the compost area (m) x compost area (m2)]
Where Qww,untreated is the palm oil mill effluent (POME) uptake which is monitored by flow meter as per the registered PDD.
This is considered conservative as some of the liquid (POME and rainwater) will evaporate and not run-off due to the compost area is an open space with neither roof nor covering as confirmed during the site visit.

The proposed deviation from the monitoring plan does not require a revision of the monitoring plan or changes from the project activity as described in the registered PDD as the deviation is only for a limited period of time. There are no permanent changes to the project activity as described in the registered PDD.

The impact of this deviation request for parameters as explained above is as follows:-
Qww,untreated and the amount of rainfall in the compost area used in the calculation has been checked against the raw data and mill records during the site visit by DNV (refer to Annex 1 and Annex 2). By applying the above formula, the estimated average monthly Qww,runoff for the unmonitored months is 25 308.4 m3/month. In comparison, the actual measured average Qww,runoff for the project activity is 5 446.4 m3/month.

(please refer to attached form for tables)

The deviation request results in additional project emissions as for the unmonitored months of June 2009, August 2009, May 2010 and June 2010, the project emissions due to anaerobic digestion of the run-off water (PEy,run-off) has been calculated as 22.5, 34.0, 7.2 and 26.7 tCO2e respectively.
The average PEy,run-off for monitored months is only 4.8 tCO2e per month which is lower than the values calculated for the months not monitored by flow meter. The proposed deviation reduces the final emission reductions of the project by 0.23% for this monitoring period. Hence, the deviation request for this parameter is deemed to be conservative.