The carbon capture and removal sector is growing rapidly, but so is scrutiny of the claims being made. Independent verification of removal rates and lifecycle impacts is becoming essential for credibility and credit eligibility.
Claims need to be verified to be credible
Carbon capture and removal projects, whether engineered (DACCS, BECCS, mineralisation) or nature-based (afforestation, blue carbon, soil carbon), are attracting significant investment and policy interest. But voluntary carbon markets are under pressure to demonstrate rigour, and buyers of carbon credits are increasingly demanding independent verification of removal claims. Life cycle assessment provides the methodological basis for quantifying net carbon removal, accounting for all emissions associated with project construction, operation and end-of-life, and avoiding double-counting and boundary errors that have undermined some earlier claims.
A sector where methodology defines credibility
Carbon removal technologies vary enormously in their permanence, cost, scalability and lifecycle profiles. Buyers of removal credits, project developers seeking funding, and policy makers designing support schemes all need credible, independently verified data. LCA provides that data. For projects seeking to access compliance markets or premium voluntary market segments, it is increasingly a baseline requirement rather than a differentiator.
Voluntary market scrutiny
Buyers of carbon removal credits, from corporate net zero programmes to compliance obligations, are applying increasing scrutiny to the quality and permanence of the removals they purchase. Independent LCA-based verification is rapidly becoming the standard for premium market access.
Accounting for full lifecycle
A project that captures 1 tonne of CO₂ but requires 0.4 tonnes to operate has a net removal of 0.6 tonnes. Getting this calculation right and being able to defend it under audit requires rigorous lifecycle assessment that accounts for all system boundaries.
Support scheme eligibility
Government support schemes for carbon removal increasingly require independent technical assessment of removal claims. LCA provides the methodological foundation for meeting these requirements.
| Parameter | DACCS (renewable energy) | Enhanced weathering |
|---|---|---|
| Gross capture (tCO₂ per tonne product) | 1.0 | 0.8 |
| Lifecycle emissions (tCO₂eq) | 0.15 | 0.08 |
| Net removal (tCO₂eq) | 0.85 | 0.72 |
| Permanence | 1000+ years | 100+ years |
Figures are illustrative and for explanatory purposes only.
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