EU adopts first certification methodologies for permanent carbon removals

What happened

On 3 February 2026, the European Commission adopted the first certification methodologies under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Certification Framework (CRCF). The methodologies were later published as Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/285 and cover three permanent removal activities:

• Direct air capture with carbon storage (DACCS)
• Capture and storage of biogenic emissions (BioCCS)
• Carbon removal through biochar

According to the Commission, the methodologies define how one tonne of removal is counted, how permanence is ensured and how risks such as leakage and liability are managed. The Commission describes this as the first comprehensive EU standard for permanent removals.

Next steps:

• Once the regulation enters into force, certification schemes can apply to the Commission for recognition.
• In July 2026, the Commission also adopted carbon farming methodologies covering agriculture and agroforestry, peatland rewetting and afforestation.
• Enhanced rock weathering and ocean-based methods are under assessment; a methodology for carbon storage in bio-based construction products is expected at the end of 2026.
• The Commission also announced that an EU Buyers' Club for permanent removals and carbon farming will be set up.

Who is affected

The CRCF is a voluntary framework and places no direct obligation on Turkish companies. It still matters in three ways. First, EU buyers may increasingly prefer CRCF-certified units when purchasing removal credits; for companies in Türkiye considering biochar or biogenic CO₂ capture projects, this is a quality benchmark. Second, Turkish companies with net-zero targets can now see more clearly which types of removal will be accepted for neutralising their residual emissions. Third, the integration of permanent removals into the EU ETS is on the agenda under the EU's 2040 target, which suggests the methodologies could later become linked to the compliance market (our news on the 2040 target).

What companies should do

• Compare the approach to neutralising residual emissions in your net-zero plan with the CRCF's permanence and liability rules.
• Facilities that use biomass can assess their potential for biogenic CO₂ capture or biochar.
• When buying removal credits, add to your contracts a criterion on whether the certification scheme has obtained CRCF recognition.

Alalëa supports companies with carbon removal strategy and credit quality assessment: carbon markets.