🚨 [NEW PAPER] Ready for compliance: the case for Biochar Carbon Removal

😎 The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies today published a paper I co-authored with Raphaël Cario. (And yes: this is different from last week’s Oxford University paper on Global South CDR industrialisation - I know, we are on a roll!).

The core message?

📣 Biochar carbon removal (BCR) is the most deployment-ready, lowest-risk durable CDR option available today and should be among the first options integrated into the EU and UK ETS.

🇪🇺 As a reminder: the European Commission is currently drafting a legislative proposal on CDR in the EU ETS to be published in July 2026. ETS integration seems almost a given, but one of the key questions is which technologies will qualify.

❗ Early signals lean toward CRCF certified DACCS/BECCS first. Our paper argues that this would be a mistake and a lost opportunity: BCR needs to be part of the package.

So why are we so confident on BCR?

🫰 BCR is the only cost-compatible durable CDR for the ETS at €150-€200/t

🏆 90% of all durable CDR globally today is BCR.

📦 BCR has the highest ratio of contracted/delivered tons at 22%

⭐ BCR has TRL 8–9: higher than any other durable CDR tech.

🔬 BCR has by far the most tried and tested standards (>5)

🔎 Commercial-scale, robust, digital MRV has already tracked >100Kt

👉 Bottom line: CRCF-certified BCR is a no-brainer for ETS integration.

🌱 And don’t get me started on co-benefits which put other approaches to shame: soil health, yield increases, water retention, wildfire mitigation, rural jobs, and the list goes on…

👀 Check out the full paper here:

https://lnkd.in/dzuzZxNQ

🙋🏻‍♀️ What is your take? Should BCR be part of the package?

👏 Thanks to Hasan Muslemani and the Oxford Energy Forum editorial team for their support, guidance, and for curating such a strong edition focused on carbon dioxide removal.

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