> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.rainbowstandard.io/methodologies/biogenic-carbon-capture-and-storage-bioccs.md).

# Biogenic carbon capture and storage (BioCCS)

This methodology covers durable carbon removal through the point-source capture and geological storage of biogenic CO<sub>2</sub> from an eligible biomass feedstock.

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="234"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Methodology name</strong></td><td>Biogenic carbon capture and storage</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Version</strong></td><td>1.0</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Methodology ID</strong></td><td>RBW-BCCS-V1.0</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Release date</strong></td><td>June 29th, 2026</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Status</strong></td><td>In use</td></tr></tbody></table>

<details>

<summary>Acknowledgements <span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="1f91d">🤝</span></summary>

*This methodology was developed by Rainbow with valuable input and support from the Rainbow BioCCS Working Group members and other expert contributors.*

*We would like to thank Jean-Lucien Fonquergne (New Mexico Tech), Tadeg Grall, Karim Rahmani (Carbon Impact) and Chris Malins (Cerulogy) for their insights and contributions throughout the development process.*

</details>

See the glossary for methodology-specific terminology :point\_down:

## Glossary

<table data-search="false"><thead><tr><th width="284">Term</th><th>Description</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Additional biomass</strong></td><td>A biomass fraction of a retrofit project, defined as any biomass used above the amount of biomass consumed in the baseline.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Associated CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub> </td><td>Fossil CO<sub>2</sub> emitted as a result of the capture process. </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Baseline biomass</strong></td><td>A biomass fraction of a retrofit project, defined as the amount of biomass consumed by the underlying facility as it existed prior to the retrofit.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>BioCCS</strong></td><td>The process of capturing biogenic CO<sub>2</sub> at a point-source, transporting and securely storing it for over 1,000 years in a geological storage reservoir that is permitted under a relevant international or national regulation.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Bioenergy</strong></td><td>Renewable energy derived from organic materials, such as plant and animal waste, agricultural and forestry residues, that are converted into heat, electricity, or fuels through processes like combustion, gasification, oxidation, anaerobic digestion and fermentation.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Biogenic CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub></td><td>CO<sub>2</sub> originating from biomass sources. It is produced by chemical or biological conversion of biomass through combustion, oxidation, anaerobic digestion and fermentation. Its capture and storage leads to net carbon removals, and is eligible for removal carbon credits.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Biomass category</strong></td><td>The qualitative type and source of biomass eligible under this methodology.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Biomass fraction</strong></td><td>An accounting construct to delineate which fraction of biomass is used for what purpose: baseline vs additional biomass (retrofit); biomass allocated to CO<sub>2</sub> generation vs allocated to bioenergy generation vs parasitic load biomass (greenfield).</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Capture facility</strong></td><td>The facility that captures a biogenic CO<sub>2</sub>-containing stream from a point-source and processes it into a transport- or storage-ready form, meeting CO<sub>2</sub> purity and pressure requirements.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Captured CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub></td><td>CO<sub>2</sub> captured and concentrated from a point-source of CO<sub>2</sub>. This can include both biogenic and fossil CO<sub>2</sub>.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>CRCF</strong></td><td>The European Commission's Regulation 2024/3012 on establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products, also called <em>Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming regulation</em>. <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3012/oj/eng">URL</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Embodied emissions</strong></td><td>Emissions associated with the construction of infrastructure and machinery attributed to the BioCCS project.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Exit point</strong></td><td>A point at which CO<sub>2</sub> is transferred out of the capture facility for the purpose of either transport or storage, which excludes any smokestack, flue or other outlet at the capture facility from which CO<sub>2</sub> is released into the atmosphere.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fossil CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub></td><td>CO<sub>2</sub> originating from fossil fuels. Its capture and storage is not eligible for removal carbon credits.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Fugitive CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub><strong> emissions</strong></td><td>Irregular or unintended CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from sources that are not localized, or are too diverse or not substantial enough to be monitored individually (e.g. equipment like reactors, pipelines, trucks). </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Geological storage</strong></td><td>Storage of CO<sub>2</sub> at a geological storage site permitted under a relevant international or national regulation.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Greenfield</strong> </td><td>A project setup, defined as the installation of a new facility, where biomass conversion and CO<sub>2</sub> capture are co-designed. </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Heat</strong></td><td>Also referred to as useful heat. Generated to satisfy an economically justifiable demand for heat, for heating or cooling purposes.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Induced GHG emissions</strong></td><td>Increase in direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions over the entire lifecycle of a BioCCS project due to the implementation of the project.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Leakage</strong></td><td>Displacement of emitting activities from the project scope to areas outside the project scope, resulting in an indirect transfer of GHG emissions rather than the absolute removal of emissions.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Marginal energy crop</strong></td><td>A biomass category for energy crops grown on marginal, degraded or contaminated land, or as a cover crop or intermediary crop.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Mixed stream</strong></td><td><p>A mixed stream is either</p><ul><li><strong>CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub><strong> streams generated and captured together:</strong> a stream of mixed fossil and biogenic CO<sub>2</sub>, generated from feedstock that includes a share of fossil-based material, or</li><li><strong>CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub><strong> streams generated separately, and captured together</strong>: the co-capture of the project CO<sub>2</sub> stream and one or more CO<sub>2</sub> streams from project-unrelated sources at the same capture facility. This includes fossil CO<sub>2</sub>, biogenic CO<sub>2</sub> from sustainable (zero-rated) biomass and biogenic CO<sub>2</sub> from unsustainable (non-zero-rated) biomass. </li></ul></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Nameplate energy generation capacity</strong></td><td>Maximum theoretical (power) output of a facility, determined by the operator and registered with authorities.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Non-segregated CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub><strong> stream</strong></td><td>Project's captured CO<sub>2</sub> that is mixed with other CO<sub>2</sub> streams for any transport or injection step.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Operator</strong></td><td>A natural or legal person, or public entity, that operates or controls the carbon removal project (i.e the capture facility), or holds decisive economic power over the technical functioning of the project. </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Point-source</strong></td><td>A localized, identifiable origin of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from which a concentrated CO<sub>2</sub> stream can be captured.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Post-crediting monitoring period</strong></td><td>Period up until the point at which responsibility for all geological storage sites used by the activity has been transferred to the relevant competent national authorities, in accordance with national regulations.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Primary energy crop</strong></td><td>A biomass category for energy crops grown as main crop on agricultural land, if this land has been repeatedly cultivated for energy crops for at least 20 years prior to the start of the project's activity.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>RED</strong></td><td>The European Commission's amended Directive 2018/2001 on the promotion of use of energy from renewable sources, also called <em>Renewable Energy Directive III</em>. <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02018L2001-20240716">URL</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Retrofit</strong> </td><td>A project setup, defined as the addition of a carbon capture unit to an existing biomass conversion site.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Segregated CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub><strong> stream</strong></td><td>Project's captured CO<sub>2</sub> that is at all times transported and injected separately from other CO<sub>2</sub> streams.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Vented CO</strong><sub><strong>2</strong></sub><strong> emissions</strong></td><td>Intentional release of CO<sub>2</sub> for operational or safety reasons.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Zero-rated biomass</strong> </td><td>Biomass certified under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive. More precisely, it is biomass compliant with Article 38, Paragraph 5 of the EU's Implementing Regulation 2018/2066, <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02018R2066-20250527#anx_IV">URL</a>, which mirrors the sustainability requirements in Article 29 of the RED</td></tr></tbody></table>


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