Certified protocol for Biochar Production and Storage

Isometric recently certified the Biochar Production and Storage Protocol, along with the Biochar Storage in Agricultural Soils Module. 

This follows a comprehensive 30-day public consultation period that included feedback from myriad stakeholders across the biochar ecosystem, including buyers, suppliers who produce biochar, academics who work on biochar science and more. The full changelog and public consultation summary for both the protocol and the module is available on the respective pages. 

Two durability options are available for issuing credits under this protocol.

1. 200-year durability. In this case, quantification uses the hydrogen to carbon ratio (a proxy measurement of biochar stability) to produce a decay curve. The decay curve estimates how much of the carbon in biochar will be stable after 200 years has elapsed. This 200 year durability also reflects the European Union’s position as established in its forthcoming regulation on carbon removal (Carbon Removal Certification Framework Regulation). 
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2. 1,000-year durability. In this case, quantification is based on novel work published earlier this year by Hamed Sanei et al. (2024). To achieve this, projects will be required to collect and submit robust evidence to demonstrate the inertinite fraction of the biochar, which is effectively permanent over geological time frames.

These two options mean that suppliers can continue with current operations and credit using existing methods or begin measuring the inertinite fraction of biochar to issue 1,000 year durability credits.

The protocol also creates flexibility for crediting by using the direct measurement of the stable fraction of biochar, which is a scientifically robust way to quantify the durable fraction of biochar. The Isometric biochar protocol is the first to allow for biochar credits to be certified with a high durability of greater than 1,000 years. 

A companion document in the Appendix of the Biochar Storage in Agricultural Soils Module details the rationale behind the quantification requirements in the two crediting options (and how the two quantification frameworks compare to one another). 

Carboneers is one of the earliest suppliers signed up to this protocol and will be delivering biochar credits against it. Their Head of Science, Daniel Guarin, Ph.D., said this about the protocol:

As biochar project developers, we at Carboneers are enthusiastic about the rigor of Isometric's new biochar protocol and how it incorporates the latest, most credible science at every step. This approach aligns with our commitment to producing biochar carbon credits that can be trusted for long-term carbon removal. We're eager to work under these stringent guidelines, as they push us to deliver even more reliable and effective climate solutions. We look forward to implementing live data reporting on the Isometric platform as part of the digital monitoring, reporting and verification for Carboneers. The high standards set by Isometric's science team challenge us in the best way possible, driving innovation and transparency in our field.

Buyers can be confident in the high quality of biochar credits that are issued against this new protocol.