Google has announced a significant move in its sustainability efforts by purchasing carbon credits from an Indian initiative that transforms agricultural waste into biochar. This innovative approach removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and enriches the soil, Google revealed on Thursday.
The agreement, signed with Indian supplier Varaha, represents one of the largest biochar-based carbon removal deals to date and marks Google’s debut in India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector.
Tech companies like Google are increasingly investing in CDR to offset their emissions. CDR encompasses a range of solutions designed to extract CO2 from the atmosphere or oceans. While emerging technologies focus on directly capturing CO2 from the air, biochar offers a more affordable and scalable option in the near term.
“Biochar is a promising carbon removal strategy because it leverages existing technology, can scale globally, and provides the added benefit of improving soil health,” said Randy Spock, Google’s lead on carbon removal initiatives.
Varaha plans to source agricultural waste from hundreds of smallholder farms across India. Using specialized reactors, this waste will be converted into biochar, which can lock away CO2 for centuries. In addition to its role in carbon sequestration, biochar will be distributed to farmers as a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilizers.
Under the deal, Google will purchase 100,000 tons of carbon credits from Varaha between now and 2030. Madhur Jain, Varaha’s CEO, emphasized the potential for rapid growth, noting that agricultural waste from Indian farms could produce enough biochar to sequester over 100 million tons of CO2 annually.
Although CDR currently accounts for a small segment of the global carbon trading market, it is projected to grow significantly as corporations and nations explore new strategies to offset emissions. However, critics argue that CDR cannot replace the need for substantial emission reductions and question the permanence of some solutions, including biochar.
“Global warming will reach its peak,” Jain acknowledged. “Even temporary reductions in CO2—lasting 20, 40, or 50 years—are critical. We must employ every method at our disposal.”
