China introduces two new CCER methodologies to reduce emissions

China launches consultations on two CCER methodologies for coal mine gas and energy-efficient street lighting projects, aimed at reducing CO2 and methane emissions.
Méthodologies CCER pour émissions réduites

Partagez:

China recently initiated consultations for two new carbon credit methodologies as part of its voluntary emissions reduction market, known as China Certified Emission Reductions (CCER).
These methodologies target projects using coal mine gas and improving street lighting in highway tunnels, with the main aim of reducing CO2 and methane emissions.

Use of coal mine gas

The use of coal mine gas is essential to reduce mine methane emissions and support China’s climate targets for 2030 and 2060.
Currently, methane emissions from mine gas flaring account for around 40% of the country’s total methane emissions.
Exploiting this gas is therefore a crucial approach to reducing these emissions. Projects eligible for CCER credits must use coal mine gas with a methane concentration of less than 8%.
Developers can collect flared gas or use extracted gas via ventilation systems.
Currently, gas with a methane concentration of over 30% is widely used for residential and industrial gas supply, compressed natural gas production or electricity generation.
If the methane concentration is between 8% and 30%, the gas can also be used to generate electricity via internal combustion engines.

Energy-efficient street lighting

Lighting upgrade projects for motorway tunnels, while generating more modest emissions reductions, are equally important.
Projects under the CCER methodology for lighting upgrades are expected to reduce emissions by 300,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, with a projected annual reduction of 1 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030.
Eligible projects must use streetlights with a luminous efficacy of at least 150 lm/W and install power consumption monitoring devices.
Developers are encouraged to install intelligent control systems and motion sensors to optimize the use of these streetlights.
In 2022, the annual electricity consumption of highway tunnels in China was 10.67 billion kWh, of which 60% to 80% was consumed by lighting systems.
Streetlights with a luminous efficacy of over 150 lm/W are around 20% more expensive than those commonly used, with an efficacy of 120 lm/W.
What’s more, tunnel operating costs will rise by 10% to 30% if an intelligent control system and sensors are installed.

Impact and outlook

The implementation of these methodologies represents a crucial step in China’s efforts to meet its climate targets, while providing much-needed financial support for decarbonization projects.
The exploitation of coal mine gas with a methane concentration of less than 8% and the improvement of lighting systems in motorway tunnels illustrate how voluntary carbon credit markets can play an essential role in the global energy transition.
Consultations for these two new methodologies will continue until August 12, offering stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the finalization of these key projects in China’s emissions reduction strategy.
The CCER is thus set to become a pillar of the country’s carbon policy, channelling the necessary funding towards a variety of innovative decarbonization initiatives.
These initiatives show how voluntary carbon credit markets can play a decisive role in the global energy transition, supporting projects that would otherwise not be economically viable.
With reductions of 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year for coal mine gas projects and 300,000 tonnes for street lighting projects, these methodologies could have a significant impact on the country’s overall emissions.

According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.
The European Parliament calls on the Commission to strengthen energy infrastructure and accelerate the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal to enhance the continent's energy flexibility and security amid increased market volatility.
The European Commission unveils an ambitious plan to modernize electricity grids and introduces the Clean Industrial Deal, mobilizing hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent's industrial and energy autonomy.
In the United States, regulated electric grid operators hold a decisive advantage in connecting new data centres to the grid, now representing 134 GW of projects, according to a Wood Mackenzie report published on June 19.
The French National Assembly approves a specific target of 200 TWh renewable electricity production by 2030 within a legislative text extensively debated about the future national energy mix.
In 2024, US CO₂ emissions remain stable at 5.1bn tonnes, as the Trump administration prepares hydrocarbon-friendly energy policies, raising questions about the future evolution of the American market.
The early publication of France's energy decree triggers strong parliamentary reactions, as the government aims to rapidly secure investments in nuclear and other energy sectors.
Seven weeks after the major Iberian power outage, Spain identifies technical network failures, while the European Investment Bank approves major funding to strengthen the interconnection with France.
The European Union has announced a detailed schedule aiming to definitively halt Russian gas imports by the end of 2027, anticipating internal legal and commercial challenges to overcome.