NetZero Secures €18 Million Investment to Expand Biochar Production in Tropical Regions

NetZero, a leader in biochar production, secured an €18 million investment from STOA during Macron’s Brazil visit, to expand in tropical areas. With facilities in Cameroon and Brazil, the company aims to remove over 5 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030, emphasizing eco-friendly operations.

March 30, 2024

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NetZero, a front-runner in the 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 production industry, has recently announced a substantial investment agreement during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Brazil. The company has successfully sealed a deal with STOA, a French fund focused on infrastructure and impactful investments, amounting to 18 million euros ($19.4 million). This strategic financial infusion is earmarked for the expansion of biochar production facilities, specifically in tropical regions.

A notable aspect of NetZero’s operations is its pioneering industrial-scale biochar production facility located in Nkongsamba, Cameroon. This facility, being the first of its kind in Africa, benefits significantly from its proximity to the region’s largest coffee-processing plant, providing easy access to coffee husks and other coffee waste products. Following its African venture, NetZero inaugurated its second production plant in Lajinha, Brazil, in April 2023, and is currently constructing another facility in Brazil with plans for further expansion and research and development enhancements in 2024.

This new funding is poised to accelerate NetZero’s ambitions to deploy production sites on a larger scale, advancing towards its ambitious objective of extracting over 5 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere by 2030. Brazil, in particular, has been identified as a critical market for NetZero’s expansion plans, with the company aiming to establish hundreds of production sites in the coming years.

The investment not only signifies a pivotal step for NetZero in achieving its carbon removal goals but also marks a new chapter for STOA, offering fresh avenues for investments in biochar infrastructure within emerging markets. Axel Reinaud, Co-founder & CEO of NetZero, and Marie-Laure Mazaud, Managing Director of STOA, both highlighted the deal’s significance in addressing the urgent environmental challenges faced by developing countries and opening new opportunities for biochar infrastructure investments.