Puro.earth has partnered with Bolivia’s first biochar producer, Exomad Green, to remove up to 200,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year.
- The first facility has already generated over 100 jobs and is expected to create a further 300 in the green technology space.
- The biochar produced is distributed freely amongst local farmers which is proven to improve agricultural yields and repair soil.
- The process uses forestry wastes as feedstock which would otherwise be incinerated, thereby improving the air quality for over 250,000 people in the surrounding area.
Exomad Green has successfully completed a rigorous third-party certification process under the Puro.earth Biochar methodology.
Puro.earth, the carbon crediting platform for engineered carbon removal, will now validate and certify Exomad Green’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits. The company expects to capture and store up to 200,000 tons of CO2 annually once it reaches peak operational capacity in the next ten months. Alongside the positive environmental impacts linked with carbon sequestration, the project will also greatly benefit the local community.
Following the opening of its first of three biochar facilities in March 2023, the company intends to cement its place as a one of the world’s leading biochar producers, boasting a production rate of more than 2,000 tons monthly.
The second and third facilities are under construction in the northern and northeastern region of the country. These three facilities together will produce over 100,000 tons of biochar per year, covering all the key residue production areas and will satisfy Bolivia’s agricultural needs with free, organic, high quality, soil amendment.
This move promises to improve air quality for over 250,000 individuals in three key areas across Bolivia. Moreover, Exomad Green has already bolstered the local economy by creating 100+ direct jobs, with plans to scale up to 300 green tech jobs in the near future.
There are many local co-benefits to the biochar process
Exomad Green’s approach revolves around collecting and using biomass residues from the sustainable forestry sector. By repurposing material that would otherwise be incinerated, Exomad Green prevents the release of large volumes of CO2, while also minimizing health risks and fire hazards.
The project promises substantial benefits for the local communities in Concepción and beyond, including improved air quality for over 250,000 individuals and bolstered farm yields through free distributed biochar. Biochar has the capacity to lock carbon away in the soil for thousands of years.
“Our project’s ripple effects are far-reaching. Beyond carbon sequestration, we are addressing pressing community concerns, from health to fire risks. By freely distributing biochar to municipalities, we’re aiding indigenous communities, enhancing farm yields, ensuring food safety, and reducing deforestation,” said Diego Justiniano, chief executive of Exomad Green.
Developing credit certification is a challenging process
Puro.earth introduced the first carbon removal crediting methodology for biochar to the market in 2019 and has been instrumental in supporting the recent boom in supply of CO2 Removal Certificates (CORCs) issued for biochar.
The platform focuses on durable carbon removal with a storage time of 100+ years (and up to thousands of years) and in March 2023 became the first carbon removal crediting programme focused on this to get endorsement by the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA). Issued CORCs are recorded in the Puro Registry, ensuring traceability, transparency, and the avoidance of double counting.
Antti Vihavainen, chief executive of Puro.earth, said, “The ambition to generate high volume of negative emissions and commitment to generating social impact, as well as environmental impact, is what really stands out in this project. We have long since recognized the potential in biochar for durable carbon removal, and we are thrilled to see that certified carbon credits enable fully additional and large-scale production of biochar.”
