Upstream Emissions Reductions
Validation and verification
About current topics in the UER market
May 2024
As you may have heard, there have been rumors and press interest in UER projects in recent weeks, not least a TV report that also puts us in a bad light. At Verico SCE, we are generally committed to the highest possible quality standards, also because such standards are inevitably relevant to the implementation of many guidelines such as CBAM and ecologically relevant markets in general. This commitment to quality is the basis of our accredited business activities. The allegations of not having recognized or even accepted deception or forgery call into question the reputation of our company as a whole and we are
doing everything we can to clarify them. If the allegations prove to be correct, we see ourselves as the injured party and will pursue the facts using legal means.
However, the results of any investigative work can only be finally evaluated after it has been completed.
We have therefore spent a lot of time and effort explaining to the media how
- validation and verification should be carried out,
- the associated rules on confidentiality of information should be taken into account,
- project-related concerns should be assessed, and
- we are in contact and cooperating with the Federal Environment Agency in the
context of the investigations already underway for which it is responsible.
Unfortunately, there currently seems to be an orchestrated effort to influence processes and markets. In doing so, we find that issues are also taken out of context and presented incompletely. Although we generally like to go into detail, we will limit ourselves to general explanations here. If you have specific questions and concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
UER - a compliance tool for fuel suppliers
EU Directive 2015/652 establishing calculation methods and reporting obligations under Directive 98/70/EC on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels. Creates special incentives for fuel suppliers to save greenhouse gas emissions, in which they include upstream emission reductions (UERs), including those from flaring and venting, which can be included in the calculation of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions limited by the Directive.
Certified greenhouse gas savings in the world's oil fields
“Upstream emissions” are all greenhouse gas emissions that occurred before the feedstock reached a refinery or processing plant. In doing so, UER from any country can be counted as a reduction in GHG emissions on fuel supplied by any supplier from any other feedstock source. UERs are estimated and validated according to principles and standards contained in international standards, particularly ISO 14064, ISO 14065, and ISO 14066.
Monitoring, reporting and verification of UER and baseline emissions shall be in accordance with ISO 14064. Verification of methods for estimating UER shall be in accordance with ISO 14064-3 and the verifying body shall be accredited in accordance with ISO 14065. The EU member states are responsible for transposing the directive into national law, where additional requirements may be included.
In particular, the German Upstream Emissions Reduction Ordinance (UERV) sets particularly high requirements here, which is, however, also reflected in a corresponding price for certificates from such registered and verified projects.
Validation & verification according to UERV & ISO 14065
As an accredited and registered validation and verification body according to UERV (Upstream Emission Reduction Regulation) and as an accredited validation and verification body according to ISO 14065 including special reference to ISO 14064-2 (emission reduction projects), verico SCE is able to perform validations of project design documents (PDD) to be submitted and, if necessary, verifications of the achieved emission reductions according to both the German UERV and the regulations of most EU member states.
Interested? Questions?
We see ourselves as the leading service provider in this context, with the most references to show for it. Get in touch with us!
