The Westport Carbon Project (WCP) is in the process of being registered with the Voluntary Carbon Market Standard (VCS) and will be the first VCS transport project and one of the largest voluntary carbon market projects worldwide. It is estimated that a natural gas heavy duty truck helps reduce green house gas emissions by 40 tonnes and approximately 20 tonnes per year for natural gas buses compared to an equivalent diesel engine. Westport and CWI natural gas powered vehicles sold since 1 January 2009 will be eligible for carbon credits based on an agreed price per tonne. Current carbon credits for this type of emission reduction program can receive up to $25 per tonne.

Westport heavy-duty natural gas engines offer class-leading emissions performance while maintaining equal horsepower, torque, and efficiency to diesel-fuelled engines. The use of liquefied natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) or biomethane (purified biogas) provides heavy-duty trucks greenhouse gas emissions reductions of more than 20% compared to conventional powered diesel trucks and buses. Vehicles sold to fleet owners in various countries worldwide including the USA, Australia, Canada and China will be included in the WCP.

Emission reduction calculations are based on an UNFCCC (United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention) approved methodology. The project documentation is currently being reviewed by SQS, a Swiss entity certified by UNFCCC for the validation of climate change projects in the transport field. Upon successful validation and verification the project will be registered as a VCS climate change project and thus vehicles equipped with the Westport engines eligible for carbon credits.

The VCS was developed by The Climate Group, the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) with input from a range of business, government and non-government organizations. It was established to provide a global standard and validation and verification program for voluntary greenhouse gas offsets.

Grütter Consulting is a leading advisory firm on carbon finance and transport with activities worldwide. Five out of seven approved UNFCCC methodologies for the transport sector have been developed by the consultancy and around 80% of all carbon finance transport projects in the regulated and voluntary carbon markets have been developed by the company.