.jpg)
A farmer holds biochar fertilizer in a vegetable garden in Spain. Biochar is an organic waste material that can help improve soil and sink carbon in the ground. (Photo: iStock)
The European Commission has announced a $30 million call for proposals to provide funding support for carbon removal projects in the region.
The $30 million is a portion of the larger $66 million package allocated by the Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE). It targets technologies such as biochar, bioenergy with carbon capture, and enhanced weathering.
Projects are encouraged to advance carbon farming through these technologies while distributing incentives across the entire value chain. The announcement also highlights that applicants can seek synergies with other projects funded through the Horizon Europe program and the “A Soil Deal for Europe”.
The funding is intended to support up to a dozen projects, with individual grants potentially ranging from $1.1 to $5.3 million and covering a maximum of 60% of the costs.
Applications will be accepted until September 17, 2024, and can be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The Commission has indicated that the results will be made public next March, with funding set to begin in mid-2025.
Carbon removal in the EU has made huge progress in recent months, with parliament enacting a carbon removals certification framework (CRCF) and work underway to establish a centralized registry, clarify accounting rules, and develop a market mechanism.
The announcement also comes after news earlier this week from Denmark, where a big amount was allocated to three companies for the durable removal of 160,350 tons of CO2.
