Frequently Asked Questions

A carbon credit represents one tonne of CO₂ (or equivalent greenhouse gas) that has been reduced, avoided, or removed from the atmosphere. Credits are issued by registries like Verra VCS or Gold Standard after independent verification. Companies purchase and retire credits to offset their residual emissions.

Avoidance credits prevent emissions that would otherwise occur — for example, protecting a forest from deforestation. Removal credits actively take CO₂ out of the atmosphere — for example, reforestation or direct air capture. Removal credits are generally considered higher quality and command premium prices.

Look for: (1) a unique serial number on a public registry, (2) third-party verification by an accredited auditor, (3) a publicly available Project Design Document (PDD), (4) a permanence buffer or risk pool, and (5) demonstrated additionality. If any of these are missing, the credit is suspect.

All three are credible. Verra VCS is the most liquid voluntary market globally. Gold Standard is considered premium, with stronger co-benefit requirements. India CCTS is the domestic compliance market administered by BEE. For voluntary offsetting, VCS or Gold Standard are recommended. For compliance obligations, CCTS credits are required.

Prices vary by standard and project type. India CCTS credits trade around ₹850/tCO₂e. Voluntary market credits (VCS) range from ₹1,200–₹2,000/tCO₂e. Gold Standard premium credits can reach ₹2,500–₹4,000/tCO₂e. Check our live Price Tracker for current indicative prices.

Yes. When retiring credits, you specify the vintage year (when the emission reduction occurred) and the purpose (e.g., "offsetting FY 2024–25 Scope 1 emissions"). The registry records this permanently. Best practice is to retire credits from the same year as the emissions you're offsetting.

BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report) is SEBI's mandatory sustainability disclosure framework. It is mandatory for the top 1000 NSE-listed companies by market capitalisation. All other companies may file voluntarily. BRSR covers 9 principles across governance, social, and environmental dimensions.

BRSR Core is a subset of the full BRSR, covering the most material ESG indicators. It is subject to mandatory third-party assurance for the top 150 NSE companies. Full BRSR covers all 9 principles in detail. Most companies start with BRSR Core and expand to full BRSR over time.

BRSR is filed as part of the Annual Report, which must be submitted to the stock exchange within 60 days of the AGM. For most companies with a March 31 year-end, this means filing by September–October 2025. Check SEBI's latest circulars for any deadline extensions.

AI-generated content can be used as a starting point, but must be reviewed, verified, and signed off by a qualified professional before submission. The data inputs must be accurate and the final report must reflect your actual company performance. Our BRSR Generator is designed to accelerate drafting, not replace expert review.

TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) is a voluntary framework for climate risk disclosure. It is not currently mandatory in India, but is increasingly expected by global investors, lenders, and rating agencies. SEBI is moving toward mandatory TCFD-aligned disclosure for all listed companies by 2026.

The Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is India's domestic compliance carbon market, administered by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). It creates tradeable credits for energy efficiency improvements by large industrial facilities. Companies that exceed their energy reduction targets earn credits; those that fall short must purchase them.

CCTS covers India's most energy-intensive sectors: steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, petrochemicals, textiles, pulp and paper, chlor-alkali, and large commercial buildings. Any facility consuming more than 100 tonnes of oil equivalent (TOE) annually may be designated as a consumer under the scheme.

ESCerts were the predecessor to CCTS under the PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) scheme. CCTS is the evolved, broader framework that replaces and expands PAT. CCTS credits are denominated in tCO₂e (carbon equivalent), while ESCerts were denominated in energy units. The transition to CCTS is ongoing.

BEE has indicated that CCTS trading will begin in 2025–26, with the first compliance cycle running through 2026. The exact timeline depends on BEE's notification of designated consumers and the establishment of the trading platform. Companies should begin baseline assessments now to be ready.

Typically 2–4 weeks from data collection to final report. The timeline depends on how quickly you can provide energy bills, fuel records, and activity data. We provide a structured data collection template to make this as fast as possible.

We provide audit-ready documentation that follows GHG Protocol standards. For third-party certification (required for BRSR Core assurance), we work with accredited verification bodies. We can manage the entire verification process on your behalf.

For a carbon footprint inventory: 12 months of energy bills (electricity, fuel), vehicle fleet data, and basic company information (headcount, revenue, locations). We provide a data collection template that makes this straightforward. For BRSR, we need the above plus HR data and governance information.

Use the contact form on our homepage or email info@sparcenergy.in. The first 30-minute consultation is always free. We'll assess your situation and recommend the right starting point.