Google announced the signing of the largest ever biochar based carbon removal agreements. As part of the agreements, the search engine giant will purchase a total of 200,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits by 2030. The agreements are with two companies: India-based Varaha and California-based Charm Industrial. These agreements are part of Google’s efforts to combat climate change.
Varaha’s Role
Varaha primarily works with smallholder farmers to store carbon on a worldwide scale, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions. The corporation was established in 2022 with the goal of removing one billion tonnes of CO2e from the environment.
The company’s facility in Gujarat, which commenced operations in 2023, utilises invasive species like Prosopis juliflora as feedstock for pyrolysis to produce biochar. The produced biochar is then applied to soil to increase fertility and help sequester carbon.
The initiative also helps combat the environmental damage caused by Prosopis juliflora, a species that depletes groundwater and suppresses native plants. Google has committed to partnering with Varaha to study the effects of removing this invasive species in India.
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Charm Industrial and Its Approach
Charm Industrial, which began operations in 2021, focuses on bio oil production and sequestration. By converting agricultural waste into bio-oil through pyrolysis, Charm stores CO2 underground in EPA regulated wells. The company will now also offer biochar alongside its bio-oil product, providing both long-term carbon sequestration and ecosystem benefits.
Charm’s CEO, Peter Reinhardt, announced in a post that the partnership with Google marks the largest-ever biochar purchase. He also highlighted the uniqueness of Charm’s polygeneration approach, combining both bio-oil and biochar for more comprehensive carbon removal.
Google’s Commitment to Carbon Removal
The agreements with Varaha and Charm are part of a broader approach that Google has taken towards attaining net-zero emissions. Google’s Carbon Removal Lead Randy Spock clarified that the aim was to spur massive biochar production for the removal of carbon in the atmosphere, in order to address climate change. The company’s purchase of 200,000 tonnes of carbon credits forms part of that approach.
The firm had already promised to buy at least $35 million in carbon removal credits within the next 12 months. Latest agreements represent continued investment in innovation that is changing the climate for the better, furthering Google’s mission of helping people do better on the world.