ACCU Scheme Eligibility

A project must meet eligibility requirements to register under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme.

Unless the method covering the project specifies otherwise, a project must:

be new (activities must not have started)
go beyond business-as-usual activities
not be required by law
not be receiving financial support from specified government programs
not be an excluded activity under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015
follow an approved method which sets out the rules for running the project and estimating emissions reductions.

And also, you must

have the legal right to carry out project activities
have the legal right to be issued all ACCUs from the project
undergo a fit and proper person assessment.

More information about the points listed above:

Location

All project activities must be carried out in Australia.

Newness

Only new projects are eligible. Projects that are already underway or include business-as-usual activities won't be registered under the ACCU Scheme.

The ACCU Scheme requires a project to have not started before it's registered with the Clean Energy Regulator. This includes potential activities you may already have begun for your project such as:

signing a contract to undertake project activities
acquiring or leasing equipment
construction
making final investment decisions.

Exceptions:

Projects that fall under the savanna fire management methods, and some projects under the landfill gas method.

Note that for the new EP method (2024), some project activities to begin once an application to register the project has been submitted, including:

preparing land for planting
purchasing seeds or seedlings
undertaking planting activities.

> For more information, refer to the newness requirement.

Regulatory Additionality

You can’t claim ACCUs if you are required by, or under, any Australian law to carry out the activities of your project.

As part of the ACCU Scheme regulatory additionality principle, it's a requirement that project activities must not be required to be conducted by or under an Australian law

Exceptions: some projects under the savanna fire management, coal mine waste gas and reforestation/afforestation methods

So, regulatory additionality requirements do not apply to EP projects.

> For more information see regulatory additionality.

Fit and proper person

You have the appropriate character and skills to successfully run an ACCU Scheme project.

Fit and proper person assessments generally consider a person’s past compliance with the law, whether they are insolvent, and whether they have the necessary skills, competency, business practices and good character reasonably expected of a participant in our schemes.

> For more information see our fit and proper person requirements.

Funding

You can't rely on the income from ACCUs to finance the start of your project.

ACCUs are generated from verified greenhouse gas emission reductions through the scheme, and have a monetary value. The ACCU Scheme is not a grants program and does not provide upfront funding. Project funding can be sought from a range of third parties such as banks, financiers or the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

> For more information, refer to Australian carbon credit units.

Legal Right

You need to have, and be able to show, that you have legal right to conduct your project (activities) and to claim ACCUs for eligible abatement.

> For more information see legal right.

Government program

You can’t receive financial support from specified government programs, that would constitute double-dipping.

If a project is receiving financial support under certain government programs or schemes, or involves certain activities, it may be excluded from participating in the ACCU Scheme. Examples of government funding, rebate or financial incentive programs include programs and schemes under the following legislation:

Full details of excluded activities are included in section 21 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015.

Next Steps

Being eligible under the ACCU Scheme does not automatically give you approval to run your project. If you'd like to proceed, your next steps may be:

Identify the type of project that is right for you and ensure you meet the eligibility requirements specific for the method. The method sets out additional rules for running the project and estimating emissions reductions.
- If you are interested in running an Environmental Planting project, the eligibility requirements are listed here.
Run an EP land assessment on grovia, to assess feasibility and viability.
Register your project.