Carbonsate biomass carbon removal project in Namibia

The German startup Carbonsate is implementing a carbon removal project in the Namibian savanna by burying unused wood in large pits. The process involves using excavators to place wood into holes, which are then sealed with plastic sheeting to create an airtight environment designed to prevent rot and keep carbon out of the atmospheric cycle. Co-founders Johanna Bröll and Fabian Sperling intend to monetize this through the sale of CO2 certificates via an online marketplace, using sensors to monitor the depots.

While the project has attracted commercial interest, it has also faced scrutiny. Organizations such as Greenpeace have expressed doubts regarding whether voluntary climate protection measures can build lasting trust without more robust quality verification processes.

In a significant commercial development, the Berlin-based procurement platform Senken signed a multi-year offtake agreement with Carbonsate to secure 50,000 tons of permanent carbon removal through biomass storage. Described as the largest deal of its kind in Europe, the agreement involves deliveries from the Namibian site scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue through 2028. This deal reflects a broader shift in the European carbon capture sector toward commercial scalability and a growing corporate demand for durable, high-integrity carbon removals.