Verra has published updates to its biochar methodology in the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program. VM0044 Biochar Utilization in Soil and Non-Soil Applications, v1.2 constitutes a minor revision to version 1.1 of the methodology.

VM0044 sets out procedures for quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions from producing biochar and using it in approved soil and non-soil applications.

Biochar systems could deliver a mitigation potential of 1 Gt CO2e per year by 2050 (conservative estimate).

VM0044, v1.2 includes several updates:

  • The addition of an investment analysis (step 3) as a requirement to demonstrate additionality (section 7), following procedures set out in VT0008 Additionality Assessment, v1.0; this update aligns VM0044 with the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles
  • References to the latest available versions of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and VCS tools

Verra continues to make progress on a major revision to VM0044, which will result in version 2.0 of the methodology. Verra expects to open a public consultation on the revision by Q4 2025.