Isometric has certified an update to the Biogenic Carbon Capture and Storage (Bio-CCS) Protocol. Version 1.3 expands eligibility to energy-from-waste (EfW) projects, with rigorous requirements for measuring the share of captured carbon dioxide that comes from biogenic waste—organic materials like food or paper.
In the UK alone, EfW has the potential to remove up to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year. Cory Group and enfinium, two of the UK’s largest EfW operators, have partnered with Isometric to generate carbon removal certificates under the updated protocol.
Certification follows a comprehensive public consultation and review by an expert group, which included feedback from suppliers, policymakers, and leading academics. Full details on the evolution of the protocol and how Isometric addressed feedback are available in the changelog and public consultation summary.
Energy-from-waste
Bio-CCS projects convert waste biomass, which would otherwise decompose and release carbon to the atmosphere, into carbon dioxide which can be captured and durably stored deep underground or as stable minerals. This pathway includes Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) projects, which combust biomass, as well as biogas projects, which use bacteria to decompose it.
EfW is a type of BECCS project where the biomass used is municipal solid waste (MSW)—such as food waste and packaging. These facilities combust the waste to recover its energy content while diverting waste from landfill, which prevents the greenhouse gas emissions and pollution released as waste decomposes.
MSW contains a mix of biogenic and fossil fuel-derived materials that cannot be physically separated. To calculate the share of captured carbon dioxide that comes from biogenic waste, Isometric requires suppliers to take radiocarbon measurements of the flue gas. This means suppliers can generate carbon removal certificates from the captured biogenic carbon, while also enabling the fossil fuel-derived carbon to be captured and durably stored.
The updated protocol includes rigorous safeguards to ensure EfW projects deliver real climate benefits. These include requirements that no recyclable materials remain in the waste feedstock, that projects are not incentivized to generate additional waste, and that robust environmental and social safeguards are met, including strict requirements for flue gas pollutants, in accordance with Isometric’s no net environmental or social harm principle.
enfinium, a leading UK energy-from-waste operator, has selected Isometric as the certifier for its Parc Adfer project. Once operational, the project is forecast to remove up to 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year under the Bio-CCS Protocol.
Karl Smyth, Director of External Affairs & Strategic Policy at enfinium, said:
“Waste to energy carbon capture and storage projects like Parc Adfer can turn unrecyclable waste into high integrity carbon removal credits that support climate efforts and prevent climate damaging landfill. The expansion of the protocol reflects the significant potential for this pathway across Europe and sends a clear signal to buyers and regulators that these credits will adhere to the highest standard of scientific rigour.”
Cory Group has selected Isometric to certify carbon removal from its Riverside 1 and 2 projects, which have the potential to remove up to 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year once fully operational.
Nick Rothwell, Head of Carbon at Cory Group, said:
"The launch of this protocol represents a major step forward for the energy-from-waste sector, establishing a robust framework to validate carbon removals from waste to energy with carbon capture and storage. Isometric’s rigorous measurement approach and transparency sets a high bar for integrity in the carbon removal market. For Cory, it unlocks the potential to certify up to 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide removals annually by 2031, delivering a material contribution to the UK’s net zero goals.”
Paul Davies, Chair of the Coalition for Negative Emissions, a trade body representing carbon capture operators, purchasers, and industry bodies, said:
"The energy-from-waste sector has the potential to be the leading source of carbon removals in the UK. Robust standards and certification for these removals, which give purchasers and the public confidence that the removals are sound and have a real environmental impact, are key to developing this market. Isometric's new protocol gives that confidence and is a hugely valuable contribution to market development."
The updated protocol also enables Isometric to support a broader range of projects, including large BECCS projects that use natural gas to maintain combustion or are integrated with processes that produce fossil fuel emissions. Previously, the protocol excluded these projects or required them to account for all fossil emissions incurred by the carbon removal process upfront, regardless of whether this carbon dioxide was then stored.
This protocol update was developed in line with the Isometric Standard, through collaboration between Isometric’s in-house Science Team and reviewers from Isometric’s independent Science Network, which includes more than 400 academic experts and practitioners.
