AMS-III.AR. Substituting fossil fuel based lighting with LED/CFL lighting systems
AMS-III.AR. is a renewable energy methodology used by 18 projects on Gold Standard, Verra. Registry records show 688,725 tonnes issued and 43.3% of them retired.
Key figures
Projects
18
Countries
10
Credits issued
688,725 t
Credits retired
298,207 t
Retired share of issued
43.3%
Projects yet to issue
77.8%
Source: Berkeley Voluntary Registry Offsets Database, as used by the Methodology Lab · Data as of June 2026
ICVCM status
No ICVCM decision on this methodology yet.
The CCP label is applied to credits by the registry, issuance by issuance. An approved methodology means credits from projects using it can be eligible; it does not mean every credit carries the label.
CORSIA programme relevance
Whether the programmes this methodology is used on are approved by ICAO. Programme level only; unit eligibility depends on dates, authorisation and each programme's exclusions.
- Gold Standard 2024 to 2026: approved · 2027 to 2029: approved
- Verra 2024 to 2026: approved · 2027 to 2029: approved
Issuance by vintage
| Vintage | Issued (tCO₂e) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 154,146 |
| 2023 | 132,430 |
| 2022 | 125,610 |
| 2021 | 75,342 |
| 2020 | 54,683 |
| 2019 | 49,979 |
| 2018 | 49,737 |
| 2017 | 36,924 |
| 2016 | 9,874 |
Source: Berkeley Voluntary Registry Offsets Database · Data as of June 2026
Projects using AMS-III.AR.
20 project pages in the CRBN.credit database, largest issuance first.
GS5304 MKOPA Solar Lighting Programme of Activities - Kenya VPA 1
Gold Standard · Kenya · Fuel Switching
348.0K
issued tCO₂e
MicroEnergy Credits - Microfinance for Solar Lamps in Kenya
Verra · Kenya · Fuel Switching
248.6K
issued tCO₂e
Namene Solar Light Company: Solar Lighting Project Zambia 1
Gold Standard · Zambia · Fuel Switching
87.1K
issued tCO₂e
GS5304 MKOPA Solar Lighting Programme of Activities - Kenya VPA 5 by Natural Capital Partners
Gold Standard · Kenya · Fuel Switching
80.5K
issued tCO₂e
Namene Solar Light Company: Replacing Kerosene lights and paraffin candles by solar lights in Namibia
Gold Standard · Namibia · Fuel Switching
11.7K
issued tCO₂e
GS10875 GS 10876 Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Southern African Countries - Zambia R-VPA 1
Gold Standard · Zambia · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
GS10875 GS 11343 Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Southern African Countries - Zimbabwe R-VPA 1
Gold Standard · Zimbabwe · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
GS10875 Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Southern African Countries - Lesotho VPA 1
Gold Standard · Lesotho · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
GS10875 Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Southern African Countries - Zambia VPA 1 (GS 10876)
Gold Standard · Zambia · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
GS10875 Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Southern African Countries - Zimbabwe VPA 1 (GS 11343)
Gold Standard · Zimbabwe · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
GS3413 - Household Solar Lighting Systems in India
Gold Standard · India · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
GS5304 MKOPA Solar Lighting Programme of Activities - Kenya VPA 6 by Natural Capital Partners by Natural Capital Partners
Gold Standard · Kenya · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
Grouped Solar Lamp distribution project in Africa#1
Verra · Ethiopia · Fuel Switching
Not yet issued
M-KOPA Solar Lighting PoA
Gold Standard · Kenya · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
MicroEnergy Credits - Microfinance for Clean Energy Product Lines - India
Gold Standard · India · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Ethiopia
Gold Standard · Ethiopia · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Ethiopia - VPA 1
Gold Standard · Ethiopia · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Malawi - VPA2
Gold Standard · Malawi · Fuel Switching
Not yet issued
Namene Solar Lights Distribution Programme in Southern African Countries
Gold Standard · Botswana · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
Unite to Light & Solar Sister Solar Lamp Project - Tanzania 2023
Gold Standard · Tanzania · Fuel Switching
No issuance recorded
Related methodologies
Same scope, with a more favourable ICVCM decision.
- AMS-I.C. Thermal energy production with or without electricity 205 projects · Under assessment, no decision published
- ACM0002 Grid-connected electricity generation from renewable sources 1,190 projects · Does not meet the Core Carbon Principles
- AMS-I.D. Grid connected renewable electricity generation 624 projects · Does not meet the Core Carbon Principles
- ACM0006 Electricity and heat generation from biomass 37 projects · Does not meet the Core Carbon Principles
- AM0072 Fossil fuel displacement by geothermal resources for space heating 12 projects · Does not meet the Core Carbon Principles
- AMS-I.L. Electrification of rural communities using renewable energy 11 projects · Does not meet the Core Carbon Principles
Questions about AMS-III.AR.
How many projects use AMS-III.AR.?
18 projects, in 10 countries, as of June 2026.
Is AMS-III.AR. approved by the ICVCM?
No ICVCM decision on this methodology yet.
How much of the credits issued under AMS-III.AR. have been retired?
43.3%, or 298,207 of 688,725 tonnes.