A quiet village near Hebri in Karnataka’s Udupi district is now home to India’s first large-scale biofuel and biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More carbon removal plant, a significant stride in clean energy innovation. This facility, spearheaded by the Indo-Danish climate tech startup MASH Makes, is transforming the traditionally messy issue of agricultural waste into valuable, eco-friendly resources.

The plant takes waste from the cashew industry and converts it into two key products: renewable biofuel and carbon-rich biochar. Since beginning operations, the unit has already generated over 2,900 metric tonnes of biochar and 1,050 metric tonnes of biofuel. The process is a textbook example of decentralised clean energy, turning local raw materials into fuel for heavy industries like shipping, and supplying power closer to the source.

Beyond fuel, the biochar product is a boon for agriculture. It significantly enhances soil fertility and moisture retention, with reports from the company noting farmers across India are seeing excellent results. Crucially, its production contributes to carbon credit generation, adding a financial incentive to emission reduction efforts.

The Udupi unit was strategically placed due to its proximity to abundant cashew processing units. It processes about 2,000 tonnes of cashew residue monthly and has created 125 local jobs, demonstrating how clean technology can simultaneously boost rural employment and sustainability. With plans to expand and use other crop residues like coconut husk, this Karnataka village is truly putting India on the global map for scalable, biochar-based carbon removal.