Empowering Biochar Producers: The Story of CarbonPilot
Over the last few months, IBI has enjoyed connecting with alumni of our inaugural Biochar Academy in 2023 to see how their journey in the biochar industry has evolved since the training.
One such participant is CarbonPilot, a company streamlining carbon credit monitoring, reporting, and verification for biochar producers. We had a chance to connect with their team to learn more about how their mission-oriented operations approach building trust in carbon markets to build financing opportunities for biochar carbon removal.
We hope you enjoy this Q&A offering insights into how one company is working to streamline the carbon marketplace.
International Biochar Initiative (IBI): Thanks for connecting with us to share more about your biochar story! To start at the beginning; how did the idea for CarbonPilot come about, and what motivated you to establish the company?
CarbonPilot (CP): Our CEO, Tristan, was once a biochar producer, but he ran into issues trying to scale because he couldn’t access carbon credit revenue streams. He found it could take years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to become certified to sell carbon credits, which is time and money he didn’t have. He realized that other biochar producers were experiencing the same issues of trying to access financing from the carbon market, so he created CarbonPilot to make that process easier for everyone.
IBI: In 2023, CarbonPilot was one of the participants in the inaugural IBI Biochar Academy. Has that experience contributed to CarbonPilot’s success?
CP: Definitely. The Biochar Academy opened my eyes to the biochar industry’s challenges and opportunities. In this way, it defined our product roadmap by surfacing some of the industry bottlenecks and problems we are passionate about solving.
The training also provided networking opportunities that would help CarbonPilot begin work with an Academy alumni (Takachar). To this day, everyone from the Biochar Academy stays in contact with the latest and greatest biochar news and updates. It’s a community where you never feel ashamed about being total biochar nerds.
IBI: We agree — being a total biochar nerd is a good thing. So, tell us more about your offerings in the biochar project landscape?
CP: CarbonPilot streamlines the certification and monitoring of carbon credits for biochar project developers. Our platform automates data collection from the supply chain and integrates with carbon credit registries, marketplaces, and buyers. This helps suppliers spend less time on paperwork and maximize credit revenues.
With CarbonPilot, suppliers also get access to corporate sponsors who are using biochar to reduce their emissions within their value chain. Biochar is increasingly being used in products like concrete, asphalt, and fertilizer, which requires a detailed understanding of both carbon removal and reduction benefits.
We believe biochar producers are the key to industry growth and are building our tools to support them.
IBI: Let’s go one level deeper. What does efficiency for biochar suppliers look like?
Suppliers have to balance a lot of challenges and opportunities. For one, they have multiple revenue streams from carbon credits, biochar, and potentially energy. However, they also have to deal with various reporting standards and customer profiles. But there are ways to manage time and revenue streams effectively.
For example, investing in IoT-enabled equipment can prevent mechanical issues and automate data collection for carbon credits. Or using an accounting system for biomass and biochar deliveries which can reduce auditing issues and streamline compliance. Other things like localizing the supply chain, identifying long term offtakes, and thorough data collection can also pay off.
IBI: This question is for fellow entrepreneurs or organizations looking to venture into biochar projects. What advice would you give based on your experiences with CarbonPilot?
CP: Trust is critical in the biochar industry. Educating, raising awareness, and addressing skepticism are a part of the job. We think transparency and choosing the right partners are key to driving demand.
The recent surge in interest has brought many new project developers to the field, but the complexities of commercializing biochar should not be underestimated. Typically, initiating a biochar project requires securing at least two of the following: a biochar offtake agreement, a carbon credit offtake agreement, or a long-term biomass sourcing contract. Without these elements, it’s difficult to determine if a project will be successful.
Despite these challenges, the market for biochar carbon removal credits is still undersupplied and biochar is being adopted by the food and agriculture, materials, and energy industries.
IBI: Considering the projected trajectory of the biochar industry, what can you share about future plans and vision for CarbonPilot?
CP: It’s an exciting time to be in biochar! Looking ahead, CarbonPilot is focused on enhancing our platform’s automated connections with marketplaces, accounting systems, and credit registries. With all the different stakeholders in the biochar industry, we’re building a one stop shop for project management.
Our future plans are also centered on unlocking demand for biochar. We’re actively building relationships with companies committed to integrating biochar projects within their value chains. These companies will rely on CarbonPilot not only to monitor the carbon removal effectively but also to ensure the avoidance of emissions is accurately recorded.