Gold Standard is opening a public consultation on Version 4.0 of the Simplified Methodology for Clean and Efficient Cookstoves (SMEC). This update aligns the methodology with the Paris Agreement by moving to direct performance measurement while maintaining accessibility for micro-scale projects.
Key Highlights:
· New Calculation Method: Shifts from theoretical "Efficiency Ratios" to specific fuel consumption. Emission reductions are now calculated based on the difference between the baseline and measured project fuel use.
· Mandatory Field Measurement: Introduces biennial Project Kitchen Performance Tests (P-KPTs) to capture actual stove performance and user behavior, replacing lab-based efficiency tests for crediting.
· Ambition & Safeguards: Integrates mandatory "Downward Adjustment Factors" (DAF), strict per-capita baseline caps, and deductions for embodied emissions and leakage.
Transition for Existing Projects:
· Gap Validation: A "Mid-Crediting Period" pathway allows projects to adopt the new calculation rules without full re-validation of the project design.
· Grace Period: To prevent disruption, projects can continue distributing devices matching their original technical specifications until 01 January 2028. The new calculation rules, however, apply immediately for 2026+ vintages.
· Evidence-Based Updates: The update is supported by a Supplementary Information package verifying the scientific basis for new leakage defaults and embodied emissions factors, ensuring robust and conservative accounting.