• Isometric has signed its first three carbon removal project developers in China, covering direct air capture and biochar.
• China may need about 3 billion tonnes of carbon removal annually to reach net zero by 2060.
• Biochar alone could remove an estimated 470 million tonnes of CO2 each year if China fully used available crop residues.

Isometric has entered China’s carbon removal market by signing three local project developers for certification, expanding its presence into one of the world’s largest potential removal markets.

The carbon removal standards company will work with direct air capture developer DeCarbon Tech and biochar companies Tongao Greenchar and Vastwing Energy. The projects will seek certification through Isometric’s science-based protocols and its Certify platform.

For China, the agreements connect emerging domestic removal capacity with international carbon credit buyers. They also bring greater scrutiny to project quality as demand for durable carbon removal grows.

China faces a major carbon removal requirement

China has committed to reaching net zero by 2060. Deep emissions reductions will remain central to that goal, but some residual emissions will still need to be addressed.

Estimates cited by Isometric suggest China could require around 3 billion tonnes of carbon removal each year.

The country has several structural advantages. Its rapid renewable energy build-out could support energy-intensive technologies such as direct air capture. China also has a large manufacturing base, which may help reduce equipment and deployment costs.

Biochar offers another large-scale opportunity. China has more potential for carbon removal through biochar than any other country, according to the company.

If all available crop residues were converted, the resulting biochar could remove an estimated 470 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

That potential is attracting project developers seeking access to international buyers that increasingly demand stronger monitoring, reporting and verification standards.

Direct air capture enters global credit markets

DeCarbon Tech was the first Chinese developer to sign with Isometric.

The company captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and stores it permanently through mineralization. It also supplies captured CO2 for industrial use while developing capacity to support lower-carbon industrial systems.

“We partnered with Isometric because of its rigorous, science-based approach and its strong recognition among global carbon credit buyers,” said Leo Liao, Co-founder of DeCarbon Tech. “Building on the experience from our demonstration facility, DeCarbon Tech is scaling reliable delivery while lowering the cost of high-quality carbon removal. Together with Isometric, we look forward to bringing China-developed DAC credits to the global market.”

The partnership gives DeCarbon Tech a route into a market where buyers are placing greater emphasis on durability, additionality and independently verified climate outcomes.

RELATED ARTICLE: Isometric, Verde Move to Scale Carbon Removal Credits Through Infrastructure

Biochar developers target agricultural waste

Tongao Greenchar is an integrated biochar developer established by Tongao Group and Greenchar Climate Solutions.

The company converts agricultural and forestry residues into durable biochar. The material is then used in traceable soil applications and biochar-based fertilizer products.

Its model covers biomass sourcing, production and long-term monitoring.

“Through our collaboration with Isometric, we want to demonstrate that China can deliver durable carbon removal at scale while transforming agricultural residues into lasting value for the climate, soils, farmers and rural communities. Tongao Greenchar is committed to playing an important role in making this vision a reality,” said Qian Guoqiang, Chairman of Tongao Greenchar.

Vastwing Energy is developing a separate biochar project in Longnan City, Gansu Province.

The project will convert discarded fruit tree branches into durable biochar using gasification technology. The material will then be applied to agricultural soils.

Vastwing said the project could produce 75,000 tonnes of biochar-based fertilizer annually.

“Vastwing is committed to developing industrial-scale projects that unlock China’s carbon removal potential. Our Longnan biochar project is the first step, and we are preparing two additional biochar projects for submission to Isometric later this year,” said Kan Li, General Manager at Vastwing Energy. “Isometric’s scientific expertise and proactive support give us confidence in scaling high-integrity carbon removal solutions from China to global markets.”

Integrity becomes the key market test

For corporate buyers and investors, China’s entry into higher-integrity removal markets could expand future supply and potentially reduce costs.

However, scale alone will not determine demand. Buyers are increasingly focused on whether credits represent measurable, durable and independently verified carbon removal.

Isometric’s expansion therefore carries both commercial and governance relevance. China has enormous technical potential, but access to global markets will depend on whether projects meet increasingly demanding standards.

If that credibility is established, Chinese DAC and biochar projects could become an important part of the global carbon removal supply base as companies look for durable tools to address residual emissions.