Supercritical’s latest analysis shows that biochar suppliers delivered 23 percent less capacity than forecast, mostly due to slow financing. Many facilities that are technically ready are not operating because the capital never arrived.

Key points relevant for producers:

• Technology maturity is no longer the bottleneck. Project funding is.

• Banks hesitate to lend without revenue certainty. Buyers hesitate to commit without project finance.

• Strong MRV and clear operational data reduce uncertainty and increase bankability.

• Long-term offtakes help stabilize revenues, but lenders still request robust performance data and traceable feedstock information.

• Policymakers are moving toward permanence thresholds of 100 years or more. This increases the value of high-integrity biochar projects.

Reflection questions:

• Which operational data points have lenders or partners requested most often in your experience?

• Which technical barriers remain misunderstood by financiers and need clearer communication?

Source: Supercritical, Financing the Future of Carbon Removal at COP30, 2024.