Can we claim credits for energy our community never had before the project?
Only for small-scale projects, and only where the methodology allows a suppressed demand baseline. Gold Standard limits it to small scale projects as defined in the relevant requirements. Such a project also cannot stack other certified impact statements or products, because the baselines could contradict.
The rule
Certain impact quantification methodologies allow a suppressed demand scenario when setting the baseline. Where that is allowed, it is limited to small scale projects as defined in the relevant activity requirements, product requirements or methodology.
No stacking
If you use a suppressed demand baseline, you cannot stack Gold Standard certified impact statements or products on the same project. The definitions of baseline could conflict.
How to check
- Find the methodology you would use.
- Read whether it allows a suppressed demand baseline.
- Read how it defines small scale.
- Decide whether you want a second certified product; if you do, plan a different baseline.
For a factory project
A factory replacing existing fuel or power does not normally have a suppressed demand story. This route is for projects that serve unmet need.
What Senseible does here
Senseible is not a registry or an auditor. Its carbon credit signals show which published rules your project type touches before you apply.
Sources: Gold Standard for the Global Goals, Principles and Requirements v2.1 (January 2025), 4.1.10 and 2.3
Last reviewed 2026-11-03. Read from version 2.1 (31 January 2025), which listed an update for 5 December 2025. Check for a newer version before relying on it.