The dissemination of HydRams in China by carrying out a CDM Project

Duration: 2007-2009

Donor/Cooperation: This project is funded by Atmosfair GmbH

Background:
In the mountainous region of Zhejiang in the southeast of China about 80% of the citizens are working as small farmers. Their rice and tea fields, that are build up in a terrace form are in need of irrigation systems. To pump up the water from rivers that are often situated below the fields, the farmers use diesel pumps. These pumps have the two disadvantages that the fuel has to be bought and that they emit large amounts of carbon dioxide.
Based on a 200 year old French technology, BORDA has developed the so called HydRam, a device that is able to lift water by the force of the river flow. There are no CO2 emissions and there is no need to buy diesel fuel any more.
CDM is short for Clean Development Mechanism, which is one of the flexible Instruments of the Kyoto Protocol. The idea here is that industrialized countries or companies from these countries with emission reduction targets invest into emission reduction projects in developing countries. The amount of reduced emissions is then issued in form of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) to the investor that he can use to meet his targets.

Aim:
The creation of (CERs) is the economic aim of this project. This will happen through the substitution of the diesel pumps with CO2 neutral HydRams. There will also be positive economic effects for the farmer, because they don’t have to buy diesel fuel any more and additional there will be less greenhouse gases emitted.

Activities:
The realization of a CDM Project is linked with several actions that must be taken before there is finally a generation of CERs. The first step is composing a PDD (Project Design Document) which includes a calculation of the reduced emissions by the project. The next step is the letter of Approval by the Designated National Authority (DNA), which stated that the project is helpful for the sustainable development of the host country and a check of the correctness of the calculated reduced emissions by another independent organization (which is in BORDA`s case the TÜV Nord). The aim of BORDA is to get the letter of approval and the validation through the TÜV Nord very soon. Within this year (after the CDM Executive Board has signed the final allowance, which is just a formality) the project will start generating CERs.
In 2008 BORDA has already installed 65 HydRams in China and is planning to install in 2009 100 further devices. This will lead to a fast generation of CERs, because CERs for the reduction that was already achieved in 2008 will also be issued in the moment the project is approved by the Executive Board.

Outcomes: There will be fewer emissions of greenhouse gases and the sustainable development of this region will be supported by the installation of the HydRams. The farmers don’t have to buy diesel fuel any more, which is positive for their income situation. The reduced amount of greenhouse gases has a positive effect on global warming. The generated CERs will be sold to Atmosfair, which they will use as an input. With these CERs they can offer CO2 neutral flights to airline passengers.