Methods for the Emissions Reduction Fund

Under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) the rules for eligible activities are set out in methodology determinations (methods).

The methods ensure the emission reductions are real and in addition to business as usual operations.

To register your project and be credited for emissions reductions by the Clean Energy Regulator your project must follow one of the finalised methods.

Finalised methods

These are the methods available.

Agriculture

• Animal effluent management method
• Beef cattle herd management method
• Estimating sequestration of carbon in soil using default values method
• Fertiliser use efficiency in irrigated cotton method
• Measurement of soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems method
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in beef cattle through feeding nitrate containing supplements method
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in milking cows through feeding dietary additives method

Energy efficiency

• Aggregated small energy users method
• Commercial and public lighting method
• Commercial building energy efficiency method
• High efficiency commercial appliances method
• Industrial electricity and fuel efficiency method
• Industrial equipment upgrades method
• Refrigeration and ventilation fans method

Facilities

• Facilities method

Mining, oil and gas

• Coal mine waste gas method
• Oil and gas fugitives method

Transport

• Aviation method
• Land and sea transport method

Vegetation management

• Avoided clearing of native regrowth method
• Avoided deforestation 1.1 method
• Designated Verified Carbon Standard projects method
• Human-induced regeneration of a permanent even-aged native forest 1.1 method
• Measurement based methods for new farm forestry plantations method
• Native forest from managed regrowth method
• Plantation forestry method
• Reforestation and afforestation 2.0 method
• Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings - FullCAM method
• Savanna fire management - emissions avoidance method
• Savanna fire management - sequestration and emissions avoidance method

Waste and wastewater

• Alternative waste treatment method
• Landfill gas method
• Source separated organic waste method
• Domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater method

Scoping and developing methods

Our department is continuously scoping and developing methods across sectors to complement those already available. The Minister determines which activities are prioritised in the ERF based on:

• the potential uptake of the method and the likely volume of reduced emissions
• whether the volume of emissions reduced can be estimated at an acceptable cost and to a reasonable degree of certainty
• whether it could have an adverse impact on society, the environment or the economy
• whether it could be better supported by other government measurements

Once prioritised, the department works with scientists, industry, technical experts, and potential end users to develop methods.

Consultation on methods

All methods are released in draft for public consultation to assist the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee in assessing whether the method meets the offsets integrity standards found in the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011. Feedback can also be provided on whether projects are likely to cause any adverse social, environmental or economic impacts.

Methods in draft or under review are published on the department’s Consultation Hub.

Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee

The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee advises the Minister whether draft methods can become a determination. They take into account submissions from the community in reviewing whether the draft meets the offsets integrity standards. The Minister cannot make a determination if the Committee advises it does not meet the offsets integrity standards.

Read about the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee.

Closed methods

See closed Emissions Reduction Fund methods.

Read more

• The ERF is enabled by the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 which also enables the 2015 Rule and 2011 Regulations.
• Read about our department's role in the ERF

Contact us

Email emissions-reduction@industry.gov.au