Google Signs Deal To Buy Carbon Credits From Indian Farms

Google has entered into a landmark agreement to purchase carbon credits from an Indian initiative that transforms agricultural waste into biochar, a sustainable form of charcoal. This marks the tech giant's first venture into India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector.

Details of the Deal

The agreement, signed between Google and Indian supplier Varaha, is one of the largest biochar-related carbon credit deals to date. Google will purchase 100,000 tons of carbon credits over the next five years, up to 2030. Biochar is known for its ability to sequester carbon dioxide for centuries, making it a promising tool in the fight against climate change.

"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.

How It Works

Varaha plans to source agricultural waste from hundreds of smallholder farms across India. This waste will be processed in specialized reactors to produce biochar, which will not only sequester CO2 but also serve as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fertilizers. According to Madhur Jain, Varaha’s CEO, India’s agricultural waste holds the potential to generate enough biochar to store over 100 million tons of CO2 annually.

Carbon Dioxide Removal Sector

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) refers to a variety of methods aimed at extracting CO2 from the atmosphere and oceans. While some companies are investing in advanced and expensive technologies for direct air capture, biochar presents a more cost-effective and immediately scalable solution.

CDR is still a small segment of the global carbon trading market but is expected to expand rapidly as nations and corporations intensify their efforts to combat climate change. Google’s foray into this space highlights growing interest in nature-based and sustainable carbon removal methods.

Criticisms and Challenges

Despite its promise, CDR has faced criticism as a temporary fix rather than a substitute for reducing emissions at the source. Critics argue that solutions like biochar lack guarantees of permanent CO2 removal.

Madhur Jain acknowledges these concerns but emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change. "We are going to face peak warming," he said. "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."