On 3 February 2026, the European Commission adopted a delegated act establishing the certification methodology for permanent carbon removals under the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF).
Among the eligible activities is biochar carbon removal. It involves converting biomass into a carbon-rich material that can store carbon for at least several centuries.
The first certifications are expected between late 2026 and early 2027. Below is a practical overview of the key requirements to help you structure your activity in a compliant way and get ready for certification.
Biomass sustainability requirements
The biomass used to produce biochar, or to generate the energy consumed by the installation, must comply with specific sustainability criteria. The requirements vary depending on the type of feedstock.
Waste and non-agricultural or non-forestry residues are subject to less stringent constraints. Agricultural and forestry residues, as well as dedicated crops, are subject to stricter conditions related to the protection of ecosystems and carbon stocks.
When biochar is the main product of the activity — meaning it represents 50% or more of the total energy content of co-products — the methodology imposes an additional restriction: biochar may only be produced from waste or residues. The use of purpose-grown biomass for biochar production is therefore excluded. This limitation does not apply when biochar is a minor co-product of a process whose primary purpose is different (e.g., energy or syngas production).
Operators must declare in the monitoring report the detailed composition of the feedstock consumed, disaggregated according to the required categories. These data allow monitoring of ecosystem pressures and biomass availability for other sectors.
Biochar production: key technical parameters
The conversion process must take place through pyrolysis at a minimum temperature of 350°C. This threshold ensures long-term material stability; below this temperature, the biochar is not eligible under the CRCF.
The certification protocol requires that at least 50% of the carbon contained in the original biomass remains in the produced biochar in a stable form.
Furthermore, the biochar production installation must be designed to capture or destroy methane generated during the process, and to utilise the co-produced heat (for biomass drying or to satisfy another economically justifiable demand for useful heat).
Quantifying carbon removals: not all carbon is certifiable
Not all the carbon contained in biochar is automatically recognized as a permanent carbon removal. The methodology requires calculating, for each production batch, the permanent fraction, meaning the share of carbon that will effectively remain stored for at least several centuries. Only this fraction generates certified carbon removal units.
For each batch of biochar produced, laboratory analyses must be conducted on representative samples. The protocol requires determining specific parameters that characterize biochar quality and stability, including the organic carbon content (Corg) and the hydrogen-to-organic carbon ratio (H/Corg). The latter parameter directly determines eligibility for certification: if the H/Corg ratio exceeds 0.7, the biochar cannot be certified, regardless of its other characteristics.
In addition to parameters used to calculate the permanent fraction, each batch must be tested to verify compliance with limits for heavy metals and organic contaminants. These thresholds vary depending on the final use: more stringent for agricultural and forestry soil application, less restrictive for incorporation into construction materials.
Final use of biochar: only certain applications are eligible
The biochar must be used in applications recognised by the BCR methodology.
Biochar may be applied to agricultural, forest or urban soils. In this case, the biochar is used as a soil amendment. It may be applied directly or after intermixing with compost, digestate or other materials in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework. There is a cumulative application limit of 50 tonnes per hectare over time, including both certified and non-certified applications and applications made prior to the adoption of the methodology.
Biochar may be incorporated into materials such as cement, concrete or asphalt. In this case, the biochar must be incorporated into the material matrix during production.
Kyklos Carbon: your partner in the certification process
The Carbon Removal Certification Framework creates concrete opportunities for biochar producers. However, the pathway to certified carbon removal units requires specialized expertise: sampling and laboratory analysis, emissions and removals calculations, and comprehensive documentation for audits.
Kyklos Carbon was created to support producers throughout this process. We are developing a platform that integrates the necessary tools to manage the entire certification process and directly connects producers and carbon credit buyers through a dedicated marketplace.
The platform is currently under development. If you would like to receive updates on the next steps or be among the first beta testers, contact us.
Biochar and CRCF: the certification methodology requirements you need to know