Google invests in Indian biochar initiative to offset emissions

Google has entered into a significant deal to buy carbon credits from an Indian project that turns agricultural waste into biochar, a form of charcoal that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil. This partnership with Indian supplier Varaha is one of the largest of its kind and marks Google’s first venture into India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector. The tech giant plans to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon credits from the initiative through 2030, as part of its broader strategy to offset emissions.

Biochar, which can sequester CO2 for centuries, is seen as a promising, cost-effective solution for carbon removal, offering immediate scalability using existing technologies. Varaha will use waste from hundreds of smallholder farms in India to produce the biochar, which will also be distributed to farmers as an alternative to fertilisers. The project has the potential to store millions of tons of CO2 annually, with Varaha’s CEO, Madhur Jain, noting that India’s agricultural waste could generate enough biochar to store over 100 million tons of CO2 each year.

While carbon dioxide removal efforts like biochar are gaining traction, some experts caution that such solutions should not replace direct emissions cuts. There are also concerns about the long-term permanence of CO2 storage through biochar. However, Jain emphasised the urgent need to address global warming, stating that even temporary reductions in CO2 are critical in the fight against climate change. As the CDR market expands, it remains a key tool for companies like Google seeking to offset their environmental impact.