Google has announced its first carbon removal agreement in India, partnering with New Delhi-based startup Varaha to purchase 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide removal credits. The deal is the largest to date involving biochar. The credits will be delivered by 2030 from Varaha’s biochar project in Gujarat.
Varaha is the only Indian company listed on Puro.Earth, a leading carbon removal standard and registry. The startup’s innovative approach utilises industrial reactors to produce biochar from Prosopis Juliflora, an invasive plant species impacting local biodiversity and grasslands. By converting this biomass into biochar, Varaha not only addresses ecological challenges but also aims to restore native grasslands in Gujarat.
The industrial biochar process involves large-scale reactors capable of processing 50–60 tonnes of biomass daily. Once the biochar is produced, it undergoes third-party verification to generate carbon credits, which are issued via Puro.Earth. Each tonne of biochar sequesters carbon for 1,000 to 2,500 years, depending on production methods and environmental factors.
In 2023, Varaha processed 40,000 tonnes of biomass, yielding 10,000 tonnes of biochar. The startup is on track to meet its 2030 target of 100,000 tonnes of biochar annually, equivalent to 250,000 carbon credits. CEO Madhur Jain said, “Even if we don’t grow our skills, we can successfully process 40,000 tonnes of biomass per year, ensuring we meet our commitments.”
Varaha has also developed a digital platform for monitoring and verification. This includes a remote sensing system to track biomass availability and a mobile app that captures geo-tagged, time-stamped images for transparency in biochar production and application.
Google’s agreement with Varaha surpasses the previous largest biochar credit deal between Microsoft and The Next 150 for 95,000 tons of CDR. Another major biochar CDR was 81,600 tonnes by Senken and Exomad Green.
“Biochar is a promising approach to carbon removal because it has the ability to scale worldwide, using existing technology, with positive side effects for soil health,” said Randy Spock, Google’s carbon removal lead.
Varaha currently operates 14 carbon projects across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Kenya. The startup has transitioned over 100,000 small farmers to sustainable practices, collectively removing more than 2 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Backed by investors like RTP Global, Omnivore, and Japan’s Norinchukin Bank, Varaha has raised $12.7 million, including $8.7 million in a Series A round last year.
