Google strikes world’s largest biochar carbon removal deal with Indian startup Varaha

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🗞️ Driving the news: Google has signed the largest biochar carbon removal deal to date, committing to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon credits from Indian startup Varaha by 2030
• This marks Google's first partnership with a carbon project in India, leveraging industrial biochar production from the invasive Prosopis Juliflora plant in Gujarat
• Biochar, a long-term carbon removal solution, is being promoted for its scalability and soil health benefits

🔭 The context: Varaha’s approach combines sustainability with innovation, using a pyrolysis facility to convert biomass into biochar while restoring native grasslands
• Carbon credits are integral to offsetting emissions, with permanence—a key factor—ensuring long-term atmospheric carbon removal
• Google’s emissions reached 14.3 million tons of CO₂ equivalent in 2023, emphasizing the need for impactful mitigation strategies

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Biochar presents a dual benefit: it locks carbon in the soil for up to 2,500 years and enhances soil fertility, supporting agricultural sustainability
• Projects like Varaha’s help restore ecosystems by managing invasive species while contributing to global emission reduction efforts
• This initiative aligns with the urgent need to mitigate climate change through innovative carbon capture technologies

⏭️ What's next: Varaha plans to scale its operations, aiming to produce 100,000 tons of biochar annually and generate 1 million carbon credits by 2030
• Google continues its push towards net-zero emissions across all operations by 2030, with projects like this forming part of its broader carbon removal strategy
• The collaboration highlights the growing role of private sector investment in advancing scalable climate solutions

💬 One quote: “Biochar is a promising approach to carbon removal because it has the ability to scale worldwide, using existing technology, with positive side effects for soil health.” — Randy Spock, Google’s carbon removal lead

📈 One stat: Each ton of biochar generates 2.5 carbon credits, with Varaha aiming to reach 1 million credits annually by 2030

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