How this pathway works
BioCRS (Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage) encompasses pathways that combine biological carbon uptake with durable physical or geological storage. Plants absorb CO₂ as they grow; BioCRS processes then convert or store the biomass in a way that prevents that carbon from returning to the atmosphere.
The most mature variant - BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) - burns or gasifies biomass to produce energy while capturing the CO₂ output for geological injection. Long-lived wood products (structural timber, engineered wood) represent a lower-technology variant that stores biogenic carbon in buildings for decades.
Teravent applies conservative crediting to all BioCRS projects, requiring full lifecycle accounting of feedstock emissions, processing energy, transport, and storage site performance. Geological storage must be verified by site-level monitoring with leak detection systems. Feedstock sustainability requirements are mandatory - no land-use change, no primary forest harvesting.
Project types accepted
The following variants of the Biomass CRS pathway are currently eligible for registration in the Teravent Registry.
Measurement, reporting
& verification
Teravent's Science Advisory Board assesses each pathway against four MRV dimensions. These scores reflect the current state of measurement science and are updated as methodology evolves.
Full lifecycle assessment is required for all BioCRS projects. Upstream feedstock emissions, process energy, transport, and compression must all be accounted for. Net removal is the difference between biogenic carbon stored and all emissions in the value chain. Geological storage sites require site characterisation and ongoing monitoring per ISO 27914.
Key registration criteria
Projects must meet all of the following minimum requirements to be considered for registration under the Biomass CRS pathway. Additional requirements may apply depending on project size, geography, and specific methodology version.
Sustainable Development
Goal alignment
All Teravent-registered Biomass CRS projects must complete an SDG impact assessment at registration and at each verification period. 4 SDGs are tracked for this pathway.
Focus region: Global — where co-benefits for communities and ecosystems are most significant and credit demand most transformational.