Microsoft backs local carbon emission scheme tenderer

Tradeslot anticipates the carbon permit auction market to be worth $5 billion to $10 billion annually

Darren Pauli (Computerworld)
07 April, 2009 14:21
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A locally developed carbon auction system that claims to cut through much of the complexity of government legislation has received backing from Microsoft to be sold globally.

The Carbon Navigator application was developed over about three years, and in line with current and emerging legislation, to allow organisations to purchase the most suitable government carbon permit allocations. The hosted application combines primary and secondary areas of footprinting and financing to locate the best of several government carbon allocations to purchase, which are released each month.

Tradeslot carbon credit analyst, Monique Bayer, said the company is seeking Austrade support to push the local software, used by large Australian corporate and government agencies, into overseas markets.

“After companies have identified where they are trading their emissions and where they are liable under law, they can use the application to determine how to address it, be it internally on abatement projects; on the carbon market; or a portfolio approach blending both,” Bayer said.

She said it can also provide users with an optimal bid on the carbon market.

Australian carbon reporting obligations under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act 2007 is expected to initially affect 700 companies and 1700 facilities over the next two years, and will hit corporate businesses hardest. The Act will give rise to Australia’s emissions trading scheme and requires organisations that emit more than 125 kilotonnes of greenhouse or 500 terajoules of energy a year, to monitor and report on their carbon output.

Similarly, companies that control facilities emitting more than 25 kilotonnes of greenhouse gases or 100 terajoules of energy a year must do the same.

Tradeslot CEO, Jesco d’Alquen, said the carbon permit auction market is expected to transact $5-$10 billion annually from 2010.

“Our technology is Australian built, operated and patented and I believe it has great export potential that could showcase Australian expertise,” d’Alquen said. He added the concept can be applied to allocation of land, mining rights, water and carbon.

-with Trevor Clarke