Ark Climate

  • Primary activity : RetailerCarbon offset retailers either fund or purchase carbon offsets in large quantities and then on sell them to individual consumers in smaller quantities.    Price (per tonne CO2e) : AU$11 - AU$20

    Summary

    Ark Climate's view on the role of carbon offsets in addressing climate change

    "Carbon offsets provide capital for investment in carbon abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. solutions and to provide a price signal / penalty / cost for CO2A greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomassBiomass is non-fossilized and organic biodegradable material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as Biofuels, but it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibres, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. , as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature. is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature. emissions.
    Ark Climate advocates the need to sustainably reduce energy and resource consumption at the same time as purchasing offset products. Carbon offsets and the purchase of renewable energy fit within the organisation's recommended hierarchy of carbon management which is promoted to all clients."


    Detailed InformationClick on the tabs below for more information:

    Summary

    Role in the Carbon Offset Market
    [Q1]Retailer
    Main client base
    [Q3]Government, Corporate

    Offset Products

    Offset Products

    Price(s) per tonne
    [Q17]AU$11 - AU$20
    Project Type(s)
    [Q26]- Hydroelectric (small scale)
    - Plantation of monoculture non-native plantation for harvesting
    - Converted oil fired generator to natural gas
    Offers offsets packaged with other services? (such as footprinting, carbon neutrality etc)
    [Q10]Yes

    [Find out more about project types]

    Offset Quality

    Offset Quality

    Offsets generated and sold by Ark Climate
    [Q33a]- Voluntary Carbon StandardThe VCS Program includes the standard (VCS 2007) and the Program Guidelines 2007. The VCS Program provides a new global standard and criteria for validating, measuring, and monitoring voluntary carbon offset projects. For more information, see here.
    Other offsets generated and sold by Ark Climate
    [Q33b]- NGACsNew South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate is a tradeable commodity used in the NSW GGAS. One NGAC represents the abatement of one tonne of CO2e associated with the consumption of electricity in NSW. NGACs are transferable certificates that may only be created by accredited abatement certificate providers.
    Do you provide quality assurance or technical documentation on your web site or on request?
    [Q16]No
    Is this organisation third party independently audited for the retirement of offsets and / or RECs?
    - Retirement of RECS
    - Retirement of offsets

    [Find out more about issues relating to offsetting]
    [Find out more about Certification Standards]

    Resources

    Resources

    Do you provide a carbon footprint calculation service for your customers?
    [Q12]- Yes, our own online calculator
    - Yes, personalised assessment
    Carbon calculation - methodology, standards or guidelines
    [Q13]- NGA FactorsThe National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors is an Australian guide to emission factors from a range of sectors that is used by companies to calculate greenhouse gases. It is prepared by the Department of Climate Change and replaces the AGO Factors & Methods Workbook. For more information, see here.
    - GHG ProtocolSee WRI / WBCSD GHG Protocol
    - ISO 14064A global GHG accounting, reporting and verification standard. The goal of the standard is to 'provide a set of unambiguous and verifiable requirements or specifications to support organisations and proponents of GHG emissions reductions projects.'
    To calculate customer emissions do you apply National Greenhouse Accounts Factors full fuel cycle emissions conversion factors?
    [Q14]- Yes
    In your calculation of customer emissions which of the 6 Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases do you include?
    [Q15]- Carbon dioxideA greenhouse gas that is produced as a by-product of oil and gas production, burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as from all animals, plants, and a number of other natural sources. Carbon dioxide is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the earth’s temperature.
    - MethaneMethane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas with a GWP of 21.
    - Nitrous oxideAgriculture accounts for the majority of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in Australia, The transport sector also contributes to emissions of N2O. N2O has a high global warming potential of about 310 times that of CO2.it breaks down very slowly – over about 120 years
    - HydrofluorocarbonsMajor releases of HFCs are from leakage from refrigeration equipment during operation and its end-of-life destruction. Minor releases arise from the use of HFC-containing aerosols, air conditioners and metered dose inhalers.HFCs have very high global warming potentials (140 to 11,700 times that of carbon dioxide).
    - PerfluorocarbonsMost emissions of PFCs in Australia are generated during aluminium production. PFCs have extremely high global warming potentials (5000 to 10,000 times that of carbon dioxide). However, because they are only released in relatively small amounts, their contribution to global warming is minor. Due to their stability they have very long atmospheric lifetimes (thousands of years).
    Other carbon management services
    [Q11]- Footprinting services
    - Advisory services
    - Gifts
    - Carbon neutrality
    - Scoping customer emissions
    - Emissions reductionA measurable reduction in the level of greenhouse gases being emitted by a country, state, organisation or individual. products and services e.g. sale of energy efficient products
    - Emissions monitoring
    - Measuring and reporting services for carbon abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. projects
    - - Energy monitoring see www.carbontracker.com.au
    - Energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency improvements refer to a reduction in the energy used for a given service (heating, lighting, etc.) or level of activity. Such savings are generally achieved by substituting technologically more advanced equipment to produce the same level of end-use services (e.g. lighting, heating, motor drive) with less electricity. consulting
    - Carbon Footprinting
    - Sustainable design and planning
    - GHGGreenhouse Gases in the earth's atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. The Kyoto Protocol lists six major greenhouse gases, which vary in their relative warming effect. The six gases are: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), PFCs (perfluorocarbons) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). framework and accounting design
    - Economic modelling for abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. projects

    [Find out more about carbon offsetting]

    Projects

    Project Information

    Baishun Run of River minihydro | Hydroelectric (small scale) Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS)

    General Information

    This project is not owned by Ark Climate
    Price per tonne of CO2e
    [Q24]

    $18

    Project Type(s)
    [Q26]- Hydroelectric (small scale)

    Quality

    Accreditation or certification achieved 9 October 2009
    [Q33a]- Voluntary Carbon StandardThe VCS Program includes the standard (VCS 2007) and the Program Guidelines 2007. The VCS Program provides a new global standard and criteria for validating, measuring, and monitoring voluntary carbon offset projects. For more information, see here.
    Registry on which project is registered
    [Q36]- VCSThe VCS Program includes the standard (VCS 2007) and the Program Guidelines 2007. The VCS Program provides a new global standard and criteria for validating, measuring, and monitoring voluntary carbon offset projects. For more information, see here. Registry
    Process followed for retiring offsets from this project off the market
    [Q37]- We retire them (later) in lump sum batches on behalf of the customer
    Retirement of abatement verified to your client via
    [Q38] - Registry transaction screenshot view
    - Evidence of registry transaction (For example, personalised account, physical copy of transaction etc.)
    - Certificate (with amount of abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. purchased)
    - Third party audit of sales against retirementIn the context of carbon offsets, this is the act of removing a carbon credit or permit from the market so that abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. cannot be traded any further. Retiring offsets helps to prevent the resale or reuse of offsets that have already been used.

    Forests NSW Carbon Pool | Plantation of monoculture non-native plantation for harvesting NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate (NGAC)

    General Information

    This project is not owned by Ark Climate
    Price per tonne of CO2e
    [Q24]

    AU$14

    Project Type(s)
    [Q26]- Plantation of monoculture non-native plantation for harvesting
    Project Size (tonnes of CO2e)
    [Q29]1,986,642 NGACs created from Feb 2005. The project is ongoing.

    Quality

    Other accreditation or certification achieved 9 October 2009
    [Q33b]- NGACsNew South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate is a tradeable commodity used in the NSW GGAS. One NGAC represents the abatement of one tonne of CO2e associated with the consumption of electricity in NSW. NGACs are transferable certificates that may only be created by accredited abatement certificate providers.
    Registry on which project is registered
    [Q36]- GGASSee The NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme Registry
    Process followed for retiring offsets from this project off the market
    [Q37]- We retire them (later) in lump sum batches on behalf of the customer
    Retirement of abatement verified to your client via
    [Q38] - Registry transaction screenshot view
    - Evidence of registry transaction (For example, personalised account, physical copy of transaction etc.)
    - Certificate (with amount of abatementA reduction in the amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as a result of actions taken by a company or individual. purchased)
    - Third Party audit
    Ancillary or co-benefits of the project
    [Q39]- Various ecological

    Bell Bay Natural Gas Generator | Converted oil fired generator to natural gas NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate (NGAC)

    General Information

    This project is not owned by Ark Climate
    Price per tonne of CO2e
    [Q24]

    $12.50 basic or $18.00 premium (using 150% offset ratio)

    Project Type(s)
    [Q26]- Converted oil fired generator to natural gas
    Project Size (tonnes of CO2e)
    [Q29]498,913 certificates created from this facilities to December 2007.

    Quality

    Other accreditation or certification achieved 9 October 2009
    [Q33b]- NGACsNew South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate is a tradeable commodity used in the NSW GGAS. One NGAC represents the abatement of one tonne of CO2e associated with the consumption of electricity in NSW. NGACs are transferable certificates that may only be created by accredited abatement certificate providers.
    Registry on which project is registered
    [Q36]- GGASSee The NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme Registry
    Process followed for retiring offsets from this project off the market
    [Q37]- We retire them concurrently at the time of purchase on behalf of the customer
    Retirement of abatement verified to your client via
    [Q38] - Registry transaction screenshot view
    Ancillary or co-benefits of the project
    [Q39]- The Bell Bay generator was originally oil fired however conversion to natural gas is not claimed as a carbon credit. In other words, the credits claimed for this abatement project are solely claimed for the present day displacement of coal fired power with natural gas rather than for the difference between oil fired power and natural gas.

    Contact Details

    Contact Details

    For more information please contact:

    Ark Climate
    http://arkclimate.com.au
    (03) 9682 4200
    Suite 4/ 24 Eastern Road, South Melbourne, Vic.
    Information Submitted by Ark Climate on 9 October 2009