Background

Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India, located in the west of the country. In this region there is an increasing demand for electricity, which is currently supplied by the burning of fossil fuels (predominantly coal). This puts strain on limited natural resources as well as increasing pollution, contributing to climate change. 

This project improves the availability of electricity for people in the region, which directly benefits the livelihoods of businesses and individuals. By replacing fossil fuels with solar energy, the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere is greatly reduced, which helps to mitigate climate change. 

About the project

This 100MW solar energy project will generate electricity that is then fed into the regional grid, meaning it is available to people who live local to the power plant. By avoiding the burning of fossil fuels, 13,243 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided every year. 

This is known as additionality, which is an important measure of carbon reduction projects. In order to qualify as a certified reduction project, there must be proof that the reduction would not have taken place without the project’s intervention.   

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The electricity produced through the solar power project will replace an equivalent amount that was previously produced from fossil fuels and purchased from the grid. This will improve the availability of electricity for people in the region, by reducing the demand-supply gap during periods of electricity shortage. In a region where the scarcity of electricity supply is often a problem, this will benefit local people and the agricultural sector considerably. 

The project conserves precious natural resources, contributing to the sustainable development of nearby communities (fully supported by local stakeholders) as well as the nation as a whole. 

This project is certified to the highest level by Gold Standard, as approved by the UN. Read more about Gold Standard’s certification process. 

Cost (USD / tonne of CO2e): $11 (read more about how this is calculated)

The impacts and benefits of this project: 

Clean energy:

• 13,243 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided each year
• Reducing reliance on fossil fuels
• Rate of natural resource depletion slowed
• Increasing percentage of renewable energy in electricity grid mix
• Mitigating climate change by swapping to clean energy source 

Local infrastructure:

• Creation of direct and indirect employment and business opportunities
• Development of infrastructure in the region by improving electricity generation capacity, leading to overall economic development of region
• Success of project encourages more solar power generation projects, leading to further sustainable development

Sustainable Development Goals

One of the requirements of Gold Standard certification is that the projects meet at least 3 of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, of which one is climate action. This means that as well as fighting climate change by offsetting carbon emissions, the projects your money is supporting contribute to sustainable development for ecosystems and communities around the world. 

The goals met by this project are: 

7. Affordable and clean energy – Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity

8. Decent work and economic growth – Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs

13. Climate action

Read more about the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

Your impact

You can see a record of our donation to this project on our public ledger. You can also view global contributions to this project on Gold Standard’s impact registry. 

Thanks to the contributions of our members, we are reducing carbon emissions for a more sustainable future.