How can solar power help companies meet Kyoto Accord carbon trading rules?
The Kyoto Accord, while discussing carbon trading, also discusses reductions in greenhouse gas production in each country. The primary measurement is that each country reduce its emissions to 1990 levels. This means that a certain percentage of a country’s power generation must have carbon removed. At least 20% or about 6 GW of electricity generation must come from technologies with zero emissions in South Africa. If every household in South Africa installed a solar water geyser, this would remove about 1.8GW from the coal-fired load, or nearly 2% of South Africa’s carbon emissions. Furthermore, large-scale green energy installations are eligible to certify their generation capacities and sell their certificates to buyers who are struggling to meet emissions targets. These certificates are traded on carbon trading exchanges, named for the fact that greenhouse gases are carbon-rich and the certificates specify savings in greenhouse gases. These exchanges are currently active in some Eur
