Google announced on Thursday its agreement to purchase carbon credits from an Indian initiative that converts agricultural waste into biochar, a form of charcoal that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and enriches soil. The partnership with Varaha, the Indian supplier, marks one of the largest biochar-related deals to date and represents Google’s first venture into India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector.
This initiative aligns with efforts by major tech companies to offset emissions through CDR, which involves interventions to remove CO2 already present in the atmosphere and oceans. Unlike expensive technologies that extract CO2 directly from the air, biochar offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative, according to Google.
“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,” said Randy Spock, Google’s carbon removal lead.
Varaha plans to source agricultural waste from hundreds of smallholder farms across India and establish reactors to convert the waste into biochar. The resulting product can sequester CO2 for centuries and will be supplied to farmers as a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers.
Under the agreement, Google will purchase 100,000 tonnes of carbon credits from Varaha between now and 2030. Madhur Jain, CEO of Varaha, highlighted the immense potential for expansion, noting that agricultural waste in India could generate sufficient biochar to sequester over 100 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
CDR currently represents a small portion of the global carbon trading market but is anticipated to grow significantly as nations and corporations seek innovative ways to meet emissions targets. However, critics caution against overreliance on CDR as a substitute for reducing emissions at their source.
Some experts have expressed concerns about the long-term efficacy of solutions like biochar in permanently removing CO2. “Even if something just reduces (CO2) or removes it for only 20 to 40 or 50 years, I feel that we need to do everything that we can,” Jain remarked, emphasizing the urgency of tackling peak global warming.
This collaboration underscores a growing interest in sustainable and scalable solutions to climate change. With initiatives like this, Google and other major players are exploring innovative approaches to offset emissions while addressing pressing environmental challenges.
