DNV involve in China's CDM projects

Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has long been a leader in trade and verification of standards. As the world's leading classification society, it has also been involved in China for over 100 years.

The Norwegian company, long noted for certification of ships, is now engaged in certifying a new type of standard, the clean development mechanism (CDM).

It is accredited by the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change for the verification of CDM projects.

DNV Greater China Manager for Certification Sangem Hsu tells China Business Weekly that the company has verified about 80 percent of the CDM projects in China.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, all CDM projects are subject to validation by a designated operating entity, which assesses the design of a CDM project and its estimated reduction of greenhouse gas emissions before it becomes operative.

Verification determines that a CDM project actually reduces emissions according to Kyoto Protocol criteria.

For example, one of DNV's latest CDM projects, at the Limin Chemical Plant in East China's Zhejiang Province, plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the elimination of HFC23 gases in a proposed thermal oxidation system.

The estimated annual CO2 emission reduction from the project is 4,783,753 tons, which has a current value of almost 38.9 million euros a year.

"The waste from the facility is a greenhouse gas with very high global warming potential. It is important to note that the size of this project is equal to 25 to 50 wind power or hydropower projects," says Thomas Vogth-Eriksen, director of operations for Region Asia and Australia at DNV.

After initial verification of greenhouse gas emission reductions at the plant, DNV expects to complete another of its periodic verifications within the next three months.