Background
The central feature of the C-SINK project is that its scope covers a wide range of approaches to CDR. Within the C-SINK project, seven CDR technologies are covered: Afforestation (AF), Biochar (BC), Biochar with carbon capture and storage (BCCCS), Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Enhanced Weathering (EW) of alkaline silicate rocks, Artificial soils (AS), and Microbial CO2 fixation (MCO2).
The MRV is therefore based on an engineered system to deal with various areas of uncertainty. A key part of that system is the production of draft pre-standards to regulate each CDR process, for example, sampling and testing methodologies. The European Commission (EC) has close contact with the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), and CEN has equally close contact with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). CEN has recently established a new Technical Committee (CEN TC474) to draft standards for CCUS. So far, the EC has not drafted a Directive for CDR, but it has produced a measure to cover its certification, for example, through the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Certification (CRCF) Regulation. Certification is usually closely linked to standards.
C-SINK has focused on basing standards in the context of CDR on quality-management systems (QMS) in accordance with the ISO 9000 series of standards. This is the suggested foundation for MRV of any CDR project, supported by standards for sampling and testing to cover both process control and quality assurance. Where appropriate standards are not already available, C-SINK will draft pre-standards to deal with the specific requirements at each Critical Control Point (CCP).
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