Google has signed a major deal with Indian supplier Varaha to purchase carbon credits derived from an initiative that turns agricultural waste into biochar, a form of charcoal that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and returns it to the soil. This deal, one of the largest of its kind involving biochar, marks Google’s first involvement in India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector.
CDR initiatives are becoming an increasingly important method for tech companies to offset their emissions. While direct CO2 capture technologies are often expensive, biochar offers a more cost-effective and scalable alternative. Biochar has the added benefit of improving soil health, making it a promising solution for global carbon removal, according to Randy Spock, Google’s carbon removal lead.
Under the agreement, Varaha will convert waste from smallholder farms in India into biochar, which can store CO2 for centuries. The biochar will also be used as a fertilizer alternative. Google plans to buy 100,000 tons of carbon credits through this partnership by 2030. Varaha estimates that India’s agricultural waste could generate enough biochar to store over 100 million tons of CO2 annually.
While CDR solutions like biochar have garnered interest in the global carbon market, some critics argue they cannot replace the need for direct emission reductions. Despite these concerns, Varaha’s CEO, Madhur Jain, believes that even temporary solutions are crucial in combating climate change.