Google has signed a new contract with carbon removal startup Charm Industrial to draw down 100,000 tons of CO2 by 2030. This deal marks Google’s first venture into purchasing biochar-based CO2 removal, alongside a separate agreement with Indian company Varaha.

Charm, founded in 2018, has primarily focused on bio-oil production through pyrolysis—a process of heating biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More in the absence of oxygen. The bio-oil is then sequestered in old oil and gas wells. Now, advances in verifying biochar’s ability to lock away carbon for centuries have enabled Charm to offer a second commercial product. 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, a co-product of pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More, is used in agriculture to improve soil health and productivity while preventing carbon release from decomposing biomass.

This deal highlights biochar’s growing potential in the carbon removal sector. Randy Spock, Google’s carbon removal lead, praises biochar’s scalability and impact, noting its compatibility with widely available biomass.

Charm sources biomass from forest management efforts in Colorado, harvesting low-value trees to reduce wildfire risks. This dual benefit aligns with climate mitigation and ecological goals, especially as wildfires intensify.

While Charm is gaining momentum, scaling carbon removal to the billion-ton level needed to combat global warming remains a challenge. However, Google’s investment signals confidence in biochar’s role in meeting ambitious climate targets.

Charm’s CEO, Peter Reinhardt, emphasizes that offering both bio-oil and biochar improves economic viability and enhances carbon removal efficiency. As the sector evolves, biochar could play a crucial supporting role in global decarbonization efforts.