The critical role of BECCS in scaling the carbon removal market

The voluntary carbon market (VCM) is facing a turning point. For years, it’s provided a way for companies to offset their emissions. But as scrutiny grows around the quality and credibility of carbon credits, the conversation is shifting. Offsetting alone won’t get us to net zero. We need to move from compensating for emissions to removing them altogether.

That’s where Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage, better known as BECCS, comes in.

Why Removals Matter Now

High-quality carbon removals are no longer optional. If the UK wants to meet its net zero targets, it needs solutions that permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere. BECCS is one of the most deployable tools we have to make that happen.

At Evero, we’re backing this with action. Our InBECCS project will retrofit carbon capture technology onto our existing Ince Biopower facility, which already processes over 110,000 tonnes of post-consumer waste wood each year. This waste-to-energy plant powers the equivalent of 38,000 homes. With BECCS, it will also remove and store biogenic CO₂, delivering measurable, permanent climate benefits.

A Triple Win for Climate, Energy, and the Circular Economy

What makes BECCS especially compelling is its triple benefit:

• Carbon removal through the permanent storage of CO₂
• Baseload renewable power that supports energy security
• Circular economy impact by turning waste wood into clean energy and climate action

This is carbon removal with real-world value, climate-positive, commercially viable, and ready to scale.

What’s Holding BECCS Back?

Despite growing momentum, there are still barriers slowing down the scale-up of BECCS and other engineered carbon removal solutions. Here’s what needs to change:

1. Clearer Definitions and Standards

We need to stop treating offsets, reductions, and removals as interchangeable terms. Durable removals should sit at the top of the climate action hierarchy, both in claims and in market frameworks. Current standards often fall short on permanence and verifiability.

That’s why Evero aligns with the Oxford Offsetting Principles. They call for 100% of residual emissions to be neutralised by durable removals by 2050, and for organisations to start now.

2. Better Financing Support

Early-stage BECCS projects face uncertainty around measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). Standards like the British Standards Institution’s PAS guidelines are still evolving, and that makes it harder for projects to secure investment. We need supportive policies that make these projects investable and scalable, fast.

3. Stronger Demand Signals

Right now, demand for durable carbon removals is still limited. But there’s massive potential in Scope 3 emissions, those indirect emissions up and down the value chain. Corporate transition plans should include targets for high-durability removals, supported by eligibility criteria that prioritise permanence and quality.

The UK Government is moving in the right direction with recent consultations on voluntary carbon and nature markets. But it’s time to double down and embed a “removals-first” mindset into regulation and procurement strategies.

It’s Not Either/Or: We Need a Mix of Solutions

Nature-based solutions like afforestation and peatland restoration play a vital role, especially in enhancing biodiversity and water quality. But they can’t do it all. Issues like permanence, land-use competition, and verification complexity limit how far these solutions can go.

A balanced approach is needed. High-durability removals like BECCS should form the backbone of our strategy, supported by nature-based and hybrid approaches. BECCS from waste wood offers a unique advantage: it connects energy resilience, waste valorisation, and carbon removal in one package.

Building a High-Integrity Carbon Market

If the UK wants to lead in carbon removals, we need to design markets and policy frameworks that reflect climate reality, not just accounting logic. That means:

• Recognising durable removals as a distinct and critical class of climate action
• Backing early projects with funding support and regulatory clarity
• Creating long-term demand through procurement rules, disclosure requirements, and carbon credit taxonomies

The infrastructure is here. The technology exists. The ambition is strong. What we need now is urgency, and coordination.

The Bottom Line

BECCS is more than a buzzword. It’s a cornerstone technology for achieving net zero. And with projects like InBECCS, the UK has a real opportunity to lead the global charge.

Let’s build a market that reflects the true value of carbon removals. Because when it comes to climate integrity, high-durability solutions aren’t just a nice-to-have. They’re a must-have.