Hamburg-based CO2 removal company Novocarbo has successfully issued the first carbon credits from its biochar-enhanced asphalt pilot deployment in Germany.
The verified high-quality credits, generated at the company’s Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea site, are now available on the market to buyers working towards sustainability goals.
The Novocarbo Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea location was launched back in 2023 in Grevesmühlen, Germany.
Positioned in a green industrial area, this site serves to demonstrate a holistic approach to carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and green heat production.
According to Novocarbo, this facility has the potential to remove 3,200 t of carbon dioxide on an annual basis, producing 1,700 t of biochar and 6,600 MWh of eco-friendly heat.
In June 2025, the company launched a pilot together with Hansa Asphalt, exploring the integration of biochar into asphalt to deliver a carbon-absorbing road construction material.
At that time, nearly 7 tons of biochar were mixed into the top layer of a road surface material, at a volume of about 3% of the total material.
This pilot managed to prove the carbon removal impact of the biochar-enhanced asphalt, noting that the biochar material also helped improve the viscosity and performance of the final asphalt product.
Additionally, results showed that due to its antioxidative properties, the biochar might also help improve the aging resistance of asphalt, unlocking a key advancement in a climate where rising temperatures threaten the durability of road construction materials.
Relevant: Novocarbo Pilots Carbon-Storing Asphalt In Germany
Through this effort, the companies aimed to address the carbon footprint of the construction industry, notorious as one of the major global emission-heavy sectors.
As shared in Novocarbo’s announcement, the Carbon Removal Park Baltic Sea initiative has now successfully issued the first asphalt carbon credits, paving the way for the decarbonization of this hard-to-abate industry.
Each of the issued Novocarbo asphalt credits stands for CO2 that has been stored permanently, and the verification can be traced under the European Biochar Certificate, which outlines strict criteria for the biochar feedstock origin, pollutant thresholds, and traceability.
Read more: Novocarbo And Stadtwerke Bochum To Offer Green District Heating With Biochar
