NetZero has announced its new “Gen2” system, a modular and containerized approach to 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. Compared to the company’s previous system, Gen1, Gen2 requires “50% less area, 90% less concrete, and 80% less steel, while doubling the throughput.” The system is designed to streamline the setup and operation of biochar facilities through standardization and automation, reducing costs, staffing needs, and deployment time.

CEO Axel Reinaud described Gen2 as “one of the key strategic objectives we had since the foundation of NetZero,” noting that it plays a central role in the company’s goal of removing one megatonne of CO₂ annually by 2030. Research Director Osvane Faria emphasized that Gen2 was developed with insights from NetZero’s existing sites, stating, “It was designed to be a fast turn-key solution that can be mass-manufactured and installed all over the world.”

The first full-scale implementation will take place at NetZero’s R&D center, with initial deployments planned for coffee and sugarcane projects in Brazil later this year. The technology was introduced at the “Energy Experience” exhibition in Paris, hosted by Dassault Systèmes, a key partner in NetZero’s industrial design and simulation efforts.

NetZero operates biochar production projects in Brazil and Cameroon, working with over 600 farmers. The company is a finalist in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition and is backed by investors including L’Oréal and Stellantis.