[ Bengia Ajum ]
ITANAGAR, 17 Dec: In a first of its kind, the Hydro Power Development Corporation of Arunachal Pradesh Limited (HPDCAPL) has become the first renewable energy-producing entity of Arunachal Pradesh to claim Carbon Credits (CC). The corporation will receive the Carbon Credits issued by the Universal Carbon Registry (UCR). The HDPCAPL recently inked an MOU with one of India’s largest renewable energy and Carbon Credits Advisory company Creduce Technologies Private Ltd., based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Earlier on the 2nd of this month, the 3-megawatt Sumbachu SHP (small hydropower) – the first hydropower project executed by the HPDCAPL at Zemithang in Tawang district was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
Days after its inauguration, the HDPCAPL has fetched the carbon registration under UCR for the Sumbachu SHP. The project is expected to contribute to the removal of 6600 tons of carbon emissions from the environment every year.
While talking to this daily, Toko Onuj, chairman-cum-managing director HDPCAPL claimed that this move will aid the mission of achieving net-zero emissions by the year 2070 as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the COP26 summit.
“Taking cognizance of the Prime Minister’s announcement at COP26, besides our own upcoming projects, the HDPCAPL is also set to facilitate other hydro electric projects in the state to register, claim and utilize carbon credits. Now that the Corporation is poised to receive carbon credits, it shall fetch Rs. 25 Lakhs in additional revenue every year for the state,” said Toko Onuj.
Further, he shared that the corporation took the decision to avail carbon credits benefits under the voluntary carbon market for alignment with new rules emerging from the Paris Climate Agreement in an effort to scale the market impact.
“With clear science indicating an urgent need to decarbonize the global economy, alongside a growing willingness among companies to commit to climate action, the voluntary carbon market is poised to become a major solution to the climate emergency. Also, we intend to play a major role by becoming the supplier of such voluntary credits to these companies” said the chairman-cum-managing Director, HDPCAPL.
