Reducing your carbon footprint - offsetting projects
Below are the projects we are currently supporting or we have already supported.
Offsetting projects
Please click the links below to learn more about each project.
Bayin'aobao wind farm, Inner Mongolia
Bayin’aobao wind farm will have 33 wind turbines, supplying 119,311 MWh of electricity to local businesses and communities in the Inner Mongolia region on an annual basis.
The Baiyin'aobao wind farm will save approximately 121,757 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to taking 22,300 cars off the road.
China: Investing in renewable wind power
In China, demand for energy is great but supply is constrained by a lack of infrastructure and investment. The Inner Mongolia autonomous region is one of the poorer regions in the country, situated on the southern edge of the Gobi Desert. Here, the average local farmer earns just $44 per month as the area suffers from cold and dry weather with annual rainfall of only 250mm.
These income levels are also typical of the rural population in general. Historically, exploitation of the region's coal resources has been a central focus. However, since the region has abundant wind energy resources, the local government is now seeing the development of wind power generation as an important part of its strategy for economic development, particularly in rural areas. Baiyin'aobao wind farm is located in the Darham Mumingan county of central Inner Mongolia.
Social well being
Bayin’aobao wind farm aims to work together with the local people in the region, helping to provide an expected 14 jobs for locals in order to operate the farm, and enable local authorities to reduce poverty in the Inner Mongolia region. In addition, the wind farm has been built in accordance with the Chinese National Urban Environmental Noise Standard meaning that the wind farm has been built 5km away from the nearest homes.
Economic well being
Wind power has become increasingly popular in China and has become a trusted method of power generation. The Bayin’aobao wind farm helps support businesses in the local area needing to access power supplies.
Environmental well being
Bayin’aobao wind farm has been approved by the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board and the Inner Mongolia Environmental Protection Bureau, which means that the project will contribute to the protection of the environment and the resources of the region.
Bayin’aobao aims to offset 121,757 tonnes CO2 per year. 121,757 tonnes of CO2 per year is equivalent to:
- 22,300 passenger cars not being driven per year
- 27,670 acres of pine or fir forests storing carbon per year
- 16,130 households' electricity use per year
Eco-system well being
Wind farms can be criticised for their impact on wildlife. This is because birds can accidentally fly into the turbines. However, the Bayin’aobao wind farm is situated far away from any large bodies of water and so also migratory flight routes used by the region's vast birdlife.
In addition, since the Bayin'aobao wind farm avoids fossil fuels being burned in an area known for its dependence on coal, it will prevent the release of harmful emissions that cause acid rain. Acid rain damages eco systems - in particular water courses which are precious in such a dry region as Inner Mongolia.
More detailed information on the project
To read more detailed information about this project, you can go to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Clean (UNFCCC) Development Mechanism website:
UNFCCC Bayin'aobao Wind Farm website
Faxinal dos Guedes Power Plant, Brazil
The Faxinal dos Guedes power plant is a unique project for the Santa Catarina region of Brazil. It is a small, hydroelectric power plant that uses the Chapecozinho River to generate clean, renewable, sustainable electricity that can be used to replace coal-generated power.
The plant will save 5,672 tonnes of CO2 per year, the equivalent of taking over 1,200 cars off the road.
Brazil: Run-of-river hydro-electric power plant
Brazil's economy has grown rapidly in recent years, increasing the country's demand for energy significantly. The south of Brazil has many of the nation's largest coal reserves, which results in most people choosing this fuel for generating power. However, because coal releases substantial quantities of CO2, it is also a major cause of acid rain and harmful air pollution.
Environmental well being
The Faxinal dos Guedes power plant has been recognised as being in accordance with the PROFINA Law (Incentive Program for Alternative Sources of Electricity). This is a federal program setting out guidelines for alternative energy sources that contribute to the better protection and sustainability of the environment.
This run-of-river project aims to offset 5,672 tonnes of CO2 annually*.
*5,672 tonnes of CO2 per year is equivalent to:
- 1,228 passenger cars not being driven per year
- 4,727 acres of pine or fir forests storing carbon per year
- 728 households' electricity use per year
Eco-system well being
Big hydroelectric plants sometimes damage the habitats of local biodiversity. Through small, run-of-river projects such as the Faxinal dos Guedes power plant, communities can instead protect and cultivate the surrounding ecosystem by creating "nature-safe" zones around the project location.
Clean, renewable sources of power also mean significant improvements to local air quality and therefore the health of the local community.
Social well being
Faxinal dos Guedes will benefit local communities by creating additional jobs, which will help local communities better their standards of living and encourage investments in infrastructure, such as healthcare and education.
Local communities will also benefit from increased reliability and quality of power.
Economic well being
The power plant uses equipment developed and manufactured locally, which helps to contribute to the local economy.
By providing electricity, the power plant will also help support the fast-growing state of Santa Catarina.
More detailed information on the project
To read more detailed information about this project, you can go to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Clean Development Mechanism website:
UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism
Xiaohe Power Plant, Gansu Province, China
Situated on Daxia River in Gansu Province of China, the Xiaohe hydro-electric power plant will help reduce regional shortages of electricity by supplying a reliable source of energy.
The project will save over 36,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to taking nearly 8,000 cars off the road.
China: Harnessing the power of water
In China, there is a growing need for efficient energy supplies. Over the past 50 years, demand for electricity has risen in line with rapid economic growth.
At the same time as supply constraints have reached a critical point, much of China's existing energy supply comes from burning coal, which is one of the most CO2 intensive sources of energy.
Environmental well being
The Xiaohe hydro-electric power plant has been approved by the Gansu Provincial and Gannan Prefectural Environmental Protection Agencies, which concluded that any adverse affect on the environment would be negligible.
Xiaohe is forecast to offset 36,582 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year*.
*36,582 tonnes of CO2 per year is equivalent to:
- 7,918 passenger cars not being driven per year
- 30,485 acres of pine or fir forests storing carbon per year
- 4,696 households' electricity use per year
Source: US Climate Technology Cooperation.
Eco-system well being
Farmers in the local area normally burn wood for cooking and heating their homes. The Xiaohe power plant provides an environmentally friendly alternative to wood burning.
Energy generated from the natural power of flowing water also reduces the region's dependence fuels such as coal. This benefits local air quality, and therefore the health of the local community.
†Project Design Document for Xiaohe 9.6MW Hydro Electric Plant, China.
Social well being
Xiaohe will benefit local communities by providing more reliable, quality power.
Xiaohe also creates 30 new permanent jobs and 360 temporary jobs, bringing in $48.20m in salaries and employee welfare to the region per year.
Economic well being
Xiaohe aims to bring in $9.96m of external investment and will generate $4.94m in tax revenue for the local region.
These additional resources will enable small businesses to grow and will give local communities the chance to invest in local infrastructure such as health and education.
More detailed information on the project
To read more detailed information about this project, you can go to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Clean Development Mechanism website:
UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism