VANCOUVER — Westport Innovations Inc. has teamed up with Grutter Consulting to launch a program to monetize the carbon emission reductions associated with Cummins Westport (CWI) and Westport HD natural gas engines.

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.

"Westport strives to offer heavy-duty vehicle engines with leading environmental performance," said Karen Hamberg, director of sustainability and environmental performance for Westport. "The WCP validates the emissions reduction benefits of natural gas engines and further supports the economic and environmental value proposition we offer to customers."

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.

The groups established the VCS in an effort to provide a rigourous, trustworthy, and innovative global standard and validation and verification program for voluntary greenhouse gas offsets.

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.

Westport and CWI natural gas powered vehicles sold since January 01, 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.

The company estimates 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.

Vehicles sold to fleet owners in various countries worldwide including the U.S., Australia, Canada and China will be included in the WCP.