On 19th November, the Council of the European Union officially approved a new regulation establishing the first EU-wide certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products (CRCF).
Although this new regulation does not create a market for removals or mandate companies to purchase such certificates, it does establish a much-needed unified definition of carbon removals and the requirements for their certification.
To meet the climate targets set for 2050, carbon removals, in addition, and as a last-mile effort to other priority actions to reduce emissions will play an important role in achieving net zero targets. Permanent carbon removals involve specific Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies that capture CO₂ from the atmosphere or biogenic sources and store it in durable forms, such as mineralisation products (e.g. carbonated aggregates in construction, carbonated bricks, etc.).
As CO₂ Value Europe, we welcome this regulation and urge the swift adoption of detailed technical rules to implement it. Such rules are essential to enable companies investing in CO₂ mineralisation from biogenic sources or direct air capture (DAC) to bring their products to market and scale up operations. We also call on EU authorities to clarify the criteria for a second category in the legislation, carbon storage in products, including whether it will encompass semi-permanent CCU products like chemicals.
Key Takeaways from the Regulation:
🔵 Mineralisation included in Permanent Removals: Legislation makes clear that biogenic or DAC CO₂ that is permanently bound in products qualifies as permanent removals.
🔵 Certification Schemes: Operators must comply with robust schemes ensuring transparent monitoring, verification, and reporting of their carbon removal activities.
🔵 EU Registry for Carbon Units: Four years after implementation, the European Commission will introduce an EU-wide electronic registry to enhance transparency and traceability of certified carbon removal activities.
More on the CRCF here.
