Verra has introduced a new module and two tools under its Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Programme methodology VM0049 Carbon Capture and Storage, version 1.0, broadening its scope to include Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). This expansion marks a significant step in advancing technological carbon dioxide removal solutions to support global net zero targets.
The release includes the VMD0059 CO2 Capture from Bioenergy module, enabling the registration of BECCS projects within the VCS framework. Additionally, two new tools—VT0012 Accounting Non-VCS CO2 in CCS Projects and VT0013 Differentiating Reductions and Removals in CCS Projects—can now be utilised alongside any module under VM0049.
These additions build on Verra’s October 2024 release of three foundational CCS modules: VMD0056 for Direct Air Capture, VMD0057 for CO2 Transport, and VMD0058 for CO2 Storage in Saline Aquifers and Depleted Hydrocarbon Reservoirs.
The modular design of VM0049 offers flexibility, allowing project developers to tailor their carbon capture, transport, and storage processes to specific technological and infrastructural needs. This adaptability supports project scalability, innovation, and the integration of shared infrastructure such as CCS hubs.
CCS hubs—shared systems for transporting, storing, or utilising CO2—are seen by Verra as a key enabler for scaling up carbon capture projects. By facilitating collaboration between emitters, including those outside the VCS registry, these hubs help lower implementation barriers, reduce costs, and enhance capital efficiency.
Verra’s framework, developed in collaboration with the CCS+ Initiative, is the first global methodology to formally support collaborative CCS hubs and shared infrastructure, offering a scalable solution to deploy multiple carbon capture technologies effectively.
The organisation has confirmed plans to release further modules and tools under VM0049 in due course.
