Yes! You can offset carbon emissions with Solvatten’s climate project by helping to reduce the need for vulnerable families to use wood and coal in Kenya and Uganda. Using the sun’s energy to provide clean and warm water improves life for humans, the environment, and the climate. If everybody on the planet used sunlight for treating, boiling, and heating water, approximately ten gigatons of CO2 emissions could be saved each year. Solvatten’s climate project meets the current standard for carbon offsetting by supporting the following criteria:

1. The climate benefits must be accurate, and the emission reduction would not happen without these project.

Solvatten adds to the increased use of renewable energy – to benefit those who live without electricity and running water at home. It reduces a family’s need for firewood and coal to heat, boil and purify water. Without Solvatten on-site, there is no climate benefit. 

2. An offset must be measurable in the form of reduced emissions. 

Continuous reporting on the use of Solvatten has been carried out since 2009, covering households’ reduction of wood and coal consumption. The results clearly show that families significantly reduce (halve) their use of coal and wood. The calculations refer to the Gold Standard methodology “Technologies and Practices to Displace Decentralized Thermal Energy Consumption.” The emission reduction factor used for wood is 1.8 tCO2 / tonne biomass and 3.67 tCo2 / tonne charcoal, as determined by the UN’s IPCC 2006 climate panel.

3. Projects must be verifiable by a reviewing third party who can verify the alleged reduction.

Reporting and feedback from the project usually take place when the families have used Solvatten for approximately six months, followed by a more comprehensive report after 12 months. Data is collected on an ongoing basis, and once a year, we report measured CO2 savings and improvements in families’ health and finances. The results from the report are summarized in the form of a Solvatten Certificate. In addition to these project reports, third-party auditors such as TÜV NORD or similar verification companies will follow up every two years.

4. Traceability: the projects must be traceable and the credits generated are provided with unique numbers that are registered and canceled in a public register.

It is easy to see and follow Solvatten’s project. You will receive ongoing information regarding when the Solvatten starts to be used and how the project develops over time. There is a user registry, but it is not available to the public due to data security requirements (but if you wish, we can share identified register information). The register contains, among other things, the unique serial numbers of each Solvatten and associated project information.

5. Sustainability/permanence: climate compensation must provide a lasting climate benefit, which means emissions are not just delayed.

Purifying, boiling, and heating water with wood and coal is part of everyday life for most people living in East Africa and elsewhere. During the project’s lifespan of 7 years, we can influence people’s life situations so that trees and forests are preserved. Solvatten is a so-called “gap filler” intended for areas lacking infrastructures such as electricity and water. If all goes well, East Africa and elsewhere communities will be gradually modernized and infrastructure developed with community services such as electricity and running clean and hot water available in every household.

Solvatten is used in both Gold Standard projects that have been UN-registered and project with third-party evaluation through Tuv Nord. Current projects are not UN registered but do meet the same criteria according to the Gold Standard methodology. 

While Solvatten contributes to all 17 SDGs, seven are directly impacted by Solvatten’s climate project. The project also provides many opportunities to engage and communicate the collaboration.