Google Partners with Varaha to Invest in India’s Carbon Removal Market

Google has entered India’s carbon removal sector, announcing a partnership with Indian supplier Varaha to purchase 100,000 tons of carbon credits by 2030. These credits will be generated from biochar, a material created by converting agricultural waste into a substance that sequesters carbon dioxide (CO2) in the soil.

Biochar is considered a scalable and cost-effective solution for carbon removal compared to high-cost technologies like direct air capture. Randy Spock, Google’s Carbon Removal Lead, explained, “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.”

Under the partnership, Varaha will collect agricultural waste from hundreds of smallholder farms across India to produce biochar. The resulting biochar not only locks CO2 in the soil for centuries but also serves as an alternative to traditional fertilizers, benefiting farmers.

While the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) market remains a small segment of global carbon trading, it is poised for growth as businesses and governments ramp up efforts to offset emissions. Varaha’s CEO, Madhur Jain, emphasized the potential impact, stating, “India’s farms can generate enough biochar to store over 100 million tons of CO2 every year.”

Despite its potential, the sector faces criticism and challenges. Some argue that CDR is not a substitute for reducing emissions and question the long-term permanence of biochar’s CO2 storage. Jain acknowledged these concerns, noting, “We are going to face peak warming. 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.”

Google’s investment highlights its commitment to exploring innovative climate solutions while providing economic opportunities for smallholder farmers in India.