# Can we claim credits for energy our community never had before the project?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/gold-standard-suppressed-demand-baseline-small-scale-only

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

1. Find the methodology you would use.
2. Read whether it allows a suppressed demand baseline.
3. Read how it defines small scale.
4. 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.

- [Carbon credit signals](https://senseible.earth/carbon-credits)
- [Verra or Gold Standard: which to choose](https://senseible.earth/answers/verra-or-gold-standard-which-to-choose)
- [Microscale projects](https://senseible.earth/answers/gold-standard-microscale-projects)

Sources: [Gold Standard for the Global Goals, Principles and Requirements v2.1 (January 2025), 4.1.10 and 2.3](https://globalgoals.goldstandard.org/standards/101_V2.1_PAR_Principles-Requirements.pdf)

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.