In response to SSC_302, the SSC WG clarified that plant oil produced from sustainable plantations that conforms to the definition of renewable biomass provided by the Board, is eligible under Type I project activities. SSC 302 requested clarification on the definition of Biomass as presented in the CDM glossary of terms, which suggested that plant oil, as it is defined in AMS-III.T is Biomass, and could be used as a Renewable Biomass energy source in AMS-I.D.

In response to SSC_286 that is related to a project activity replacing a pressure reducing device with a backpressure turbine in an existing cogeneration facility, the SSC WG agreed to indicate that the described project activity is not eligible under Type I methodologies as the project activity will not result in a direct conversion of energy from renewable sources. It noted that the same quantity of biomass is used in the project and baseline, and, in the absence of detailed energy balance of the system provided, there are uncertainties related to level of service of steam/heat/electricity applications in the baseline versus the project.

The scenario associated with the project activity in SSC 286 was:
1. A new sugar factory where only two turbine generators are installed to be used as captive source of electricity for the new sugar factory
2. The project activity which results in a third turbine generator being installed at the site of the new sugar factory.
The three turbines were all ordered together highlighting the fact that the project is not an addition to an existing unit but was planned with the new sugar factory.

In response to SSC_312, the SSC WG agreed to clarify that AMS-I.C is not applicable to the described project activity whose baseline is the use of multiple boilers using different fuels (fossil fuel and biomass). SSC 312 sought clarification on a CDM project activity that consists of a biomass boiler, used only for thermal energy generation, that displaces/avoids fossil fuel consumption that would have been used in the absence of the project activity. The type of biomass used by the project activity was bamboo.
The situation before the implementation of the proposed CDM project activity was:
In 2005, two different boilers were in operation: one fossil fuel boiler, and one biomass (wood/bamboo) boiler. In 2006, three different boilers were in operation: one fossil fuel boiler, and other two biomass (wood/bamboo & wood) boilers. Reason to add the third biomass (wood) boiler was because of problems in the wood/bamboo boiler (bamboo formed a silicate which damaged the boiler) and to complete the plants capacity needs at that time. The wood biomass boiler was rented from the same manufacturer of the (future) bamboo biomass boiler (project activity).

After the implementation of the project activity, the three boilers were replaced by a new bamboo biomass boiler. The existing wood/bamboo biomass boiler was scrapped, the wood biomass boiler was returned to the manufacturer and the fossil fuel boiler was refurbished and it is to operate as back up of the new bamboo boiler in emergency situations. The baseline scenario (simplified baseline) proposed by the project participants considers that, in the absence of project activity, a new fossil fuel boiler would have been used (to be demonstrated/justified). Considering the above, clarification was requested on Baseline emissions reductions.