In a revealing move that underscores both promise and urgency, Google has entered into the world’s largest biochar carbon removal deal with an Indian startup named Varaha. The agreement hinges on biochar—an ancient soil additive sometimes hailed as “black gold” for its ability to lock away carbon. It may sound high-tech, yet it involves a decidedly low-tech approach: harnessing biomass, which is then pyrolyzed into a stable form of charcoal. The deal signals a heightened focus on methods to mitigate our warming climate, but it also raises questions about the scale of corporate commitments when measured against the scope of global carbon emissions.
From Gujarat to Google
By 2030, Varaha plans to deliver 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide removal credits to Google from its facility in Gujarat, India. There, the company will transform an invasive plant species, Prosopis Juliflora, into biochar using industrial-scale pyrolysis reactors capable of processing up to 60 tons of biomass daily. The species in question is notorious for elbowing out native vegetation and threatening local rangelands. Turning it into biochar effectively tackles two problems at once: invasive plant management and long-term carbon storage.
Varaha’s CEO and co-founder, Madhur Jain, regards this synergy as a small but meaningful victory in an era where every ton of sequestered carbon counts. Once the biochar is produced, a third-party auditor files a report to Puro.Earth, a carbon removal registry, where the credits are formally approved. Each ton of biochar translates into roughly 2.5 carbon credits—a metric Jain claims can remain in stable form for up to 1,600 years, assuming optimal conditions in both production and soil application.
The Biochar Basics
Biochar isn’t new. In fact, indigenous communities have long used charcoal to enrich soil fertility. Modern production, however, now occurs at two scales: artisanal (community-driven) and industrial (machine-intensive). While both methods involve burning organic matter in low-oxygen environments, industrial reactors can crank out tens of thousands of tons of biochar. Advocates see it as a solution that not only secures carbon underground but also enhances soil health—a two-for-one benefit.
Still, biochar’s true value depends heavily on permanence: how long can that charcoal remain a stable carbon sink? Estimates vary widely, from a thousand years to more than two millennia, influenced by feedstock quality, pyrolysis temperature, and environmental conditions. The longer the carbon stays locked away, the more credible the carbon credit.
A Small Dent in a Big Problem
Google, with annual emissions that topped 14.3 million tons of CO₂ equivalent in 2023, is an influential test case. Its appetite for computing power—especially in the era of generative AI—continues to expand. While this deal with Varaha is momentous in the realm of biochar, it covers only a fraction of the tech giant’s emissions. Yet, as Google’s carbon removal lead Randy Spock points out, if biochar can “scale worldwide,” that fraction could grow significantly.
Monitoring, Verifying, Reporting
Varaha also employs a digital monitoring and reporting platform that uses remote sensing to track biomass availability and verifies each step with geo-tagged, time-stamped images. This level of transparency is increasingly key for carbon offset projects, given the skepticism around programs that overpromise or fail to maintain carbon in permanent storage.
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, Google’s involvement highlights a brewing shift: corporations are wading deeper into carbon removal strategies, from direct air capture to regenerative agriculture. Biochar stands out for its blend of traditional practice and scientific rigor, offering both climate and agricultural payoffs. But the tension remains—how do we ensure these offsets meaningfully reduce overall emissions, rather than simply enabling “business as usual”?
When major tech players pitch in, they help build a market for carbon removal technologies that desperately need economies of scale. However, climate experts argue that buying credits cannot replace the fundamental need to cut emissions in the first place. Biochar may be a valuable tool in our collective toolbox, but it’s still just one piece of a sprawling, complex puzzle.
FAQs
- What is biochar used for?
Biochar is primarily used to improve soil fertility while also locking away carbon for centuries. - Who is Varaha?
Varaha is an Indian startup producing industrial biochar from invasive species, offering long-term carbon removal credits. - Why is Prosopis Juliflora considered invasive?
This plant outcompetes native grasses and harms local ecosystems, making it an ideal candidate for biochar production. - What does Puro.Earth do?
It serves as a registry and standard for carbon removal credits, verifying the credibility of projects like Varaha’s biochar facility. - How long can biochar store carbon?
Depending on factors like feedstock and processing, biochar can store carbon from about 1,000 to over 2,000 years.
