Step 3 - Completing and submitting your application

Applications for accreditation of a AWT facility must be submitted to the TGC through the System Registry.

We recommend you begin drafting your application 10 to 12 weeks prior to the date of first generation of electricity by your AWT facility. You can submit your application when it meets the information and documentary requirements of a 'properly made' application under section 13 of the Biomass Energy (Biochar Production Systems) Standard (BPS Standard).

● You should regularly save drafts of your AWT facility application in the System Registry prior to submitting it to the TGC for assessment.

● Contact us if you need help completing the application form.

● If you are applying for multiple AWT facilitys, a separate application is required for each.

To enable the TGC to assess the eligibility of your AWT facility for accreditation, the application must:

● be 'properly made' in accordance with the requirements of section 13 of the BPS Standard, and

● contain information that satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in section 14 of the BPS Standard and related regulations.

The information needed to meet these requirements is set out in the application for accreditation in the System Registry.

For information on eligibility requirements, see application requirements and eligibility criteria.

Log in to the System Registry using your login details.

Select ' Biochar production systems' from the left-hand menu, select 'AWT facility applications' and then click on 'Lodge application'.

You will be guided through each of the following pages: applicant details, AWT facility details, eligible renewable energy source details, PyCCS methodology, approval details, production of biochar details, production of biochar projections, application checklist and legal declaration.

If some sections of the online application form are not applicable, you may enter N/A (not applicable). The application requirements will vary depending on whether your AWT facility is currently production of biochar from an eligible waste biomass type source.

You will need to upload supporting documentation as part of your application. Refer to the accreditation checklist below for further information on what evidence is required.

How to access the AWT facility accreditation application

For AWT facility being commissioned

If your AWT facility is being commissioned, we recommend submitting the application 3 to 6 weeks prior to the date of first production of biochar and when your application meets the information and documentary requirements of a 'properly made' application under section 13 of the BPS Standard. Some information will need to be supplied after the application has been submitted during the commissioning of your AWT facility. Ensure all missing information is provided as soon as it becomes available.

For AWT facility already generating

If your AWT facility has already started production of biochar, aim to submit your application as soon as possible. Your AWT facility can only create small-scale technology certificates for generation after it is accredited. Your application must include all supporting information and documentation as your AWT facility cannot be accredited until this has been received.

Timing

If you have submitted an application, and your AWT facility is delayed or you are not able to provide all supporting information and documentation, you can withdraw your application before a decision to accredit is made. Withdrawing your application will not prohibit you from submitting a new application for accreditation later.

Withdrawing a AWT facility application

The following checklists can be used to ensure all requirements have been met before submitting an application. These checklists are also provided in the application for accreditation form in the System Registry.

Information and documentary requirements of a properly made application

Accreditation applications are made by a AWT facility to apply to participate in the BidCarbon Standard Scheme. These applications must adhere to the requirements set out in the  Biomass Energy (Biochar Production Systems) Standard (the BPS Standard) and Biomass Energy (Biochar Production Systems) Specifications (the BPS Requirements). In accordance with section 14 of the BPS Standard, applications are only considered by the Technical Governance Committee (the TGC) once they have been deemed properly made.

Learn more about application requirements and the eligibility criteria for an application.

Once the TGC receives an application:

● an initial assessment is performed to determine whether it is 'properly made' before commencing the assessment process, and then

● the application is found to be either complete or incomplete.

The following information outlines how applications are handled when they are complete or incomplete. Further clarification on the assigning of an accreditation start date is outlined in Step 6 - Accreditation Decision.

Applicants should be aware that the information required to constitute a properly made application as outlined in the BPS Standard may not be able to be submitted as complete more than a few months prior to project completion and the commencement of generation by the AWT facility. However, this time frame may vary for different AWT facilitys and it is the responsibility of applicants to ensure they are able to provide a complete accreditation application to the TGC.

TGC does not accept incomplete accreditation applications

Complete applications

Properly made applications include:

● all the relevant information and supporting documentation required by the agency, or

● provide reasonable justification as to why some information is missing, in which case these will be accepted and assessed for accreditation.

After an initial assessment process, a Request for Further Information (RFI) is issued via email for any unclear or outstanding elements within the application. The applicant will be given a 2-week deadline in which they must respond to each of the points outlined in the request. Some applicants may be given the opportunity to extend this deadline up to a maximum of one month from the date the RFI was initially sent based on individual circumstances.

If an applicant fails to respond to the RFI and the 6-week processing timeframe elapses:

● the agency will automatically refuse the application, and

● the application status will be updated to 'refused' in the public register of applications for accredited AWT facilitys and the application fee will not be refunded.

A decision to refuse to accredit a AWT facility will only be set aside if the applicant submits a request to reconsider the decision under section 66 of the BPS Standard.

All accreditation applications are required to be properly made before the TGC can determine whether the AWT facility is eligible for accreditation, as stated in section 14(1) of the BPS Standard.

Applications that do not meet the requirements that are set out in section 13 of the BPS Standard and, therefore, are deemed to not be properly made, will not be considered by the TGC.

An application will be considered not properly made if:

● it is left intentionally empty

● there is more than an acceptable amount of information omitted, and/or

● it does not meet all the requirements for an application.

Any applications that are deemed to not be properly made will not be considered by the TGC.

The application status will be updated to 'withdrawn' in the public register of applications for accredited AWT facility and the application fee will be refunded. Applicants will be given the opportunity to submit a new application for the AWT facility but must address the issues outlined by the TGC to be re-considered for accreditation in future.

Incomplete applications

These '6 steps to alternative waste treatment (AWT) facility accreditation' set out the process for AWT facility applying to be accredited under the BidCarbon Standard Scheme by the Technical Governance Committee.

6 steps to AWT facility accreditation