Google has recently announced a significant move towards environmental sustainability by agreeing to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits from the Indian startup Varaha. This marks Google’s first deal with a carbon project in India and is considered the largest involving biomass-produced biochar, also known as horticultural charcoal or “black gold” for soils.
The offtake agreement between Google and Varaha entails the delivery of carbon removal credits by 2030 from Varaha’s industrial biochar project located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. While the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, Varaha is the sole Indian company listed on the carbon removal standard and registry Puro.Earth.
Biochar, the product of Varaha’s project, is generated from an invasive plant species called Prosopis Juliflora using an industrial pyrolysis facility in Gujarat. This invasive species has negatively impacted plant biodiversity and taken over grasslands used for livestock. Varaha plans to harvest this plant and work towards restoring native grasslands in the region. Once the biochar is produced, a third-party auditor will submit a report to Puro.Earth to generate carbon credits.
Biochar is recognized as a long-term carbon removal solution, with its permanence varying between 1,000 and 2,500 years depending on production and environmental factors. The concept of permanence in carbon credits is crucial as it indicates how long carbon remains stored in soil before being released back into the atmosphere.
Varaha has conducted extensive research to optimize its biochar production process, aiming for a permanence close to 1,600 years. The startup has also implemented a digital monitoring system that integrates remote sensing to monitor biomass availability. Furthermore, Varaha’s mobile app captures geo-tagged, time-stamped images to document activities such as biomass excavation and biochar application in the field.
In its initial project, Varaha processed 40,000 tons of biomass and produced 10,000 tons of biochar in the previous year. The startup’s CEO, Madhur Jain, expressed confidence in their capacity to reach the target of 100,000 tons of biochar by 2030.
Each ton of biochar generated by Varaha yields 2.5 carbon credits, with the startup aiming to achieve 1 million credits annually by 2030. Carbon credits have become increasingly significant as companies seek to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by supporting sustainable projects.
Google’s deal with Varaha sets a new benchmark in the carbon removal sector, surpassing previous transactions involving biochar carbon credits. Despite this milestone, Google continues to address its carbon emissions, with plans to achieve net-zero emissions across all operations and value chains by 2030.
Randy Spock, Google’s carbon removal lead, praised biochar as a promising approach to carbon removal due to its scalability and positive effects on soil health. Varaha currently operates 14 tech-driven carbon projects across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya, supporting over 100,000 small farmers in transitioning to sustainable practices and removing over 2 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. With substantial backing from investors, Varaha is poised to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change.
