Tech and Finance Fuel Biochar Boom as Carbon Removal Demand Reaches New Highs

The biochar carbon removal (BCR) market is experiencing unprecedented growth in 2025, setting new records for contracted volumes. In the first half of the year alone, companies secured 1.6 million tonnes of biochar credits—already surpassing the totals of both 2022 and 2023 combined. Data from CDR.fyi confirms that since early 2022, contracted purchases have exceeded 3 million tonnes.

A major driver of this acceleration was Microsoft’s agreement to purchase 1.24 million tonnes of credits from Exomad Green. This single offtake deal made the second quarter of 2025 the busiest period yet for BCR transactions and highlighted how large-scale corporate commitments can shift market dynamics.

Technology companies and financial institutions remain central to biochar’s rise. Microsoft, Google, Boston Consulting Group, and JPMorgan together represent 57% of all purchases, with Microsoft alone responsible for nearly half of the global total. On the financial side, firms such as Swiss Re, Nasdaq, SEB, and Tide Platform have leaned almost entirely on biochar, drawn by its durability, transparent verification, and added benefits for soil health.

Biochar’s advantage lies in its readiness: it is cost-efficient, scalable, and deployable today. Since 2022, close to 300 distinct buyers have entered the market—five times more than those choosing enhanced weathering, the next most popular approach. For many companies making their first foray into carbon removal, biochar has become the preferred entry point.

The sector’s financial expansion has been striking as well. From a market value of $14.6 million in 2022, biochar has surged past $181 million by 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate above 130%. With this momentum, biochar is emerging as the first true breakout story in the carbon removal industry.