This week, Rainbow announced the launch of a public consultation period on its new biomass burial carbon storage module, part of its BiCRS methodology.
As shared in the announcement, the period for public feedback and commentary on the module will run until September 21, 2026.
Released on August 21, 2026, Rainbow’s biomass burial module covers steps for delivering credible carbon management results by burying biomass under conditions that prevent decay and CO2 release in the atmosphere.
It provides guidelines on eligible technologies, biomass type, storage sites, conversion approaches, and certification requirements, among other aspects.
The module also goes through rules on durability, risk assessment and mitigation, co-benefits, environmental and social risk evaluation, greenhouse gas (GHG) quantification, and other crucial elements.
Eligible biomass categories and storage sites under the new module
Under Rainbow’s module, eligible biomass categories include woody biomass, which is commonly disposed of by burial, and biomass that’s been thermochemically converted by being heated under controlled conditions, as is the case with hydrochar or biochar production.
Specifically, the types of eligible biomass outlined in the module include forest waste from secondary forest, forest waste from managed forest, necessary tree removal from any forest, and thermochemically converted biomass.
With this new module, hydrochar and biochar developers will now have access to a new pathway for permanent CO2 storage.
Relevant: Rainbow Updates Its BioCCS Methodology To Align With The EU CRCF Framework
In terms of eligible storage sites, the module states that they should be located below the ground and maintain conditions that inhibit the decomposition of biomass, naturally or by engineered design.
Projects certified under this module should cause additional carbon dioxide removals by storing eligible biomass for at least 100 years in eligible subsurface storage sites.
This offering enables projects to use biomass degradability and soil methane oxidation values specific to the project site. With this option, the figures for carbon removals reflect the real conditions on the project’s ground.
A detailed description of the Rainbow biomass burial module can be found here.
Read more: Frontier Approval Positions Rainbow Among Leading Carbon Removal Registries
