Requantification services for Verra projects

Starting from the beginning of 2025, projects under the Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program can voluntarily request a requantification to update their projects to new methodologies, or new versions of methodologies. In line with this update, SustainCERT now offers validation and verification services for methodology change and requantification, for project developers looking to upgrade their projects.

There are two alternatives that project developers can follow to update their methodologies:

1. Reconcile existing carbon credits: project developers can reconcile existing carbon credits (Verified Carbon Units under the VCS) with the new methodology for past monitoring and verification periods. This means that existing carbon credits within a project are updated to a new methodology in line with the most up-to-date science and best practice.
2. Methodology changes for future issuance of carbon credits: project developers can choose to undergo a methodology change for future carbon credits only. This is done during verification and will only apply to future credits issued after the methodology update, leaving existing credits within the old methodology.

Methodology changes can be beneficial, especially when a new methodology is approved for Core Carbon Principles (CCP) labels by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM). This ensures high quality and integrity standards within the project, attracting quality conscious buyers in the market. Additionally, methodology changes can ensure eligibility under schemes like CORSIA.

What you need to know about VCS methodology changes and requantification

What are methodology changes and requantification?

Starting in 2025, project developers can request approval according to Verra’s Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure. This new procedure allows projects registered in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program to: 

• Update the methodology or version they are using for past verification periods.
• Align past monitoring and verification reports with the updated methodology.
• Requantify emission reductions and removals from past verification periods in accordance with the new methodology.

Why pursue a requantification?

Requantifying your project allows you to update it retroactively to the latest methodology, incorporating the most up-to-date scientific understanding and market best practice. This procedure enables you to requantify reductions and removals from past monitoring and verification periods and reconcile previously issued Verified Carbon Units with the updated quantification.

Can you apply CCP-labels after the requantification?

Verra has submitted this procedure for review to the ICVCM as a VCS Program update. Pending approval, project developers can request Core Carbon Principles (CCP)-labels for reconciled Verified Carbon Units if the new methodology meets the CCP-criteria. Projects can also update to methodologies eligible under schemes such as CORSIA (see Eligible Emission Units under CORSIA).

How to requantify carbon credits?

To change methodology and requantify existing credits, project developers must notify Verra. The project will then be assessed against the new methodology’s requirements by an approved Validation and Verification Body (VVB), such as SustainCERT and go through Verra’s approval process.

To retroactively change a methodology and requantify existing credits, project developers need to prepare an updated Project Description, a Reduction and Removal Calculation sheet, and a Requantification Report for assessment and verification by a VVB.

Projects must conform with all requirements of the new methodology and meet all applicability conditions outlined in the VCS Methodology Change and Requantification Procedure.

Updating the methodology for future carbon credits

Project developers can also update the methodology for future carbon credit issuances without requantifying existing credits. In this case, existing credits continue to be valid and can be retired as usual, but they may not be eligible for market labels such as CCP-labels.

This type of methodology change is completed during verification, in line with Verra’s Procedure to Change Project Methodology through a Project Description Deviation. This procedure is for project developers that are updating the methodology for future monitoring periods only. The methodology change is reviewed during the next verification cycle and applied to future credits from the project after approval from Verra.

This process requires preparing an updated Project Description, as well as a Reduction and Removal Calculation sheet in line with the new methodology. No requantification report is needed to complete a methodology change at the verification stage.