Consultants, banks to help cos raise funds for CDM projects

Raising finance for companies eyeing renewable energy projects would no more be a tough task as banks and consultants are working on innovative solutions to help these companies.

With UN climate summit at Copenhagen finally passed, now focus would be on reducing emission of greenhouses gases that are warming the atmosphere. The reduction in greenhouse gases means that more and more companies resort to Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, whereby not only they could reduce carbon dioxide emissions but also earn through carbon credits.

Sensing this as a viable business proposition, consultants as well as banks are eager to flutter their wings and help companies soar, by addressing their financing problems.

Gensol Consultants, that is into trade of helping companies earn carbon credits, is planning to launch a $200 million (Rs 936 cr approx) ‘Carbon Finance Fund’ by March 2010.

Director of Gensol Consultants Anmol Singh Jaggi maintained that the ‘Carbon Finance Fund’ would help companies address the equity-related issues involved while venturing into renewable sector projects.

Jaggi revealed the fund would help companies in sectors of renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste management raise equity required for developing CDM projects. Jaggi added the fund became even more relevant in context of the renewable energy and energy intensity certificate trading schemes to be launched next year.

The amount invested on equity would be gained through regular supply of carbon credits the company would be earning over a period of time.

Commenting on raising the amount for setting up the fund, Jaggi added the money was being raised with help of institutional investors, who were looking to gain from carbon trading. Gensol Consultants is a 360o Carbon Solutions Provider with expertise in all spheres of the carbon arena ranging from compliance to voluntary reductions, carbon management and strategic consulting. The company, having a pan-India presence, has helped over 250 clients in the past two years in cutting down on carbon emissions and gain carbon credits.