CSI MRV and Emission Portfolio
Project-cycle, emission portfolio, offsetting rules, efficiency gates, and post-production dMRV under CSI Global Biochar C-Sink v3.3.
Primary: 4000039EN.pdf Ch. 4–12 · Formulas · service page · vault MRV Stack.
Lifecycle logic (industrial)
EBC/WBC product cert + batch analytics
↓
Emission portfolio (biomass → application) + MoS
↓
Offset portfolio (GPC for CO₂/N₂O; TCE-matched temporary for CH₄)
↓
dMRV track packaging units to eligible matrix / soil
↓
Register C-sink in Global C-Sink Registry (after validation)
CSI requires associated emissions offset before the C-sink is validated/usable for compensation (v3.3 Summary & §1.2–1.3, Ch. 4). That is a sharper “pay the footprint first” culture than buffer-pooled VCS issuance.
Prerequisite product layer: Product Standards EBC IBI. Permanence splits: CSI GPC vs SPC Permanence Classes.
What enters the emission portfolio (§4.2)
| Block | Content |
|---|---|
| Biomass provision | Production, processing, transport (Ch. 5.3 factors / positive list) |
| Biomass storage | Ch. 6 |
| Pyrolysis & site equipment | Ch. 7.1 (energy, fuels, CH₄ from unit) |
| Post-production → C-sink | Transport, processing, application (Ch. 10) |
| Margin of safety | Flat 20 kg CO₂e / t biochar DM at producer factory gate |
Emissions logged separately as t CO₂, t N₂O, t CH₄. Emission factor = total expenditures / batch dry biochar mass (§4.2).
GWP100 factors (v3.3)
| Gas | Factor | Note |
|---|---|---|
| N₂O | 298 | Geological offset required |
| Biogenic CH₄ | 27.0 | AR6; was 25 through v3.2 |
| Fossil CH₄ | 29.8 | AR6 |
Transition: contracts may still use GWP 25 until 1 January 2027 (§4.4).
Offsetting rules (§4.3–4.4)
| Emission | Must be offset with | Rationale (CSI) |
|---|---|---|
| Fossil CO₂ | GPC (geological C-sinks in registry) | Long radiative lifetime |
| N₂O | GPC | Long residence time |
| CH₄ | Temporary C-sink delivering equal TCE within 5 ≤ H_del ≤ 20 years | Most CH₄ warming is near-term; geological GPC is “neither efficient nor adequate” for CH₄ |
Self-offsetting with the same batch’s registered sink is allowed once the portfolio is covered (§4.3).
Order-of-magnitude CH₄ math (standard narrative): ~94.6 t CO₂e stored constantly over 20 years offsets 1 t biogenic CH₄; using decaying SPC raises required initial removal to ~122 t CO₂e per t CH₄ (§4.4).
Figure 3 in the standard shows GPC partially retired to cover production fossil CO₂, residual GPC for CINK_1000+ sales, and SPC curve for temporary services.
Margin of safety (§4.7)
- 20 kg CO₂e / t biochar (DM) ≈ ~0.7% of biochar carbon
- Applied at producer factory gate
- Not reduced by pro-rata allocation
- Covers unquantified Scope 3 (bags, servers, commuting, capital equipment, sampling imprecision, etc.)
- Size reviewed at least every two years
(§4.7)
Pro-rata GHG attribution (§4.6)
When biochar is one of several marketable pyrolysis products, facility emissions may be split on an energy (LHV) basis (ISO 14040 framing) if non-biochar products generate income/value ≥ 30% of biochar income.
- Feedstock drying heat used for the pyrolyzer itself stays with biochar
- Emissions after biochar leaves the unit → 100% to biochar portfolio
- Worked Box 6 example: biochar energy share 20.6% of outputs → that share of CO₂/N₂O/CH₄ (excl. MoS mechanics as specified)
(§4.6)
Fossil reduction plan & efficiency gates
Fossil carbon reduction (§4.5 / §1.3)
Producers must maintain an annual fossil emission reduction plan (Global Biochar Tool or upload) covering biomass production → packaging at the facility (biogenic CH₄ from storage/pyrolysis excluded from the fossil plan; transport after gate is trader/processor responsibility).
| Deadline | Target (exec summary §1.3) |
|---|---|
| 2030 | Fossil emissions < 100 kg CO₂e / t biochar |
| 2035 | < 20 kg CO₂e / t biochar |
Wording watch: §4.5 body text says “per ton of biochar-carbon” while §1.3 and the energy chapter cross-ref say “per ton of biochar.” Until CSI clarifies, diligence both; vault default for checklists = exec summary per ton biochar.
Energy-use efficiency (§8.2)
For each certified batch, ≥ 60% of (feedstock LHV energy + process energy expenditures) must appear as used energy / beneficial products (heat, power, biochar LHV, pyro-oil, drying credit, marketed fuels, limited CCU credit, etc.). Failure → batch not C-Sink eligible.
Carbon efficiency (§8.1)
Declared (sequestrable pyrolytic C / feedstock C); no hard threshold yet — transparency / additionality control that pyrolytic use does not replace a more C-efficient baseline.
Feedstock additionality (pointer)
Ch. 5 sets carbon neutrality of biomass, additionality / baseline logic (prefer residues over primary wood that would have been long-lived timber), approved biomasses and default expenditures, and monitoring for perennial systems. Operational detail lives in the PDF + biomass positive lists; do not invent EF tables here — cite v3.3 Ch. 5 and EBC biomass positive list (4000095EN).
Post-production dMRV (Ch. 10–11)
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tracking | Every packaging unit labeled (QR); Batch ID, analytics link, production date, CO₂-removal year, owner, departure GPS, DM tons, C content, emission-portfolio link |
| Custody | Scan at destination; online ownership transfer confirmation |
| Soil consent | Landowner/tenant agrees soil is entry to geological storage (ToS / invoice OK); landowner need not be C-sink owner |
| Matrix end | Incorporation into approved matrix can end geographic tracking if oxidation loss is precluded |
| Tools | CSI-endorsed dMRV providers (4000162EN); may use own QR if linked to Global Biochar Tool batch page |
| Storage >1 year on site | May register as temporary C-sink (Ch. 12.6) |
| Processors / traders | Must be EBC/WBC certified as processor and/or trader; footprints enter portfolios |
Dry matter: on-site DM protocol per ≤ 10 m³ (or ≤7 big bags): ≥20 subsamples → ≥10 L; dry 110 °C ≥16 h (or endorsed LOD analyzer); round DM % to whole percent; label each unit with dry weight (§9.2).
Geo-localization: GPS in field for defined applications; photo with date/geolocation recommended (Ch. 11). Diffuse C-sinks: Ch. 11.2 + matrix list.
Eligible applications (Ch. 12 snapshot)
| Use | Key rule |
|---|---|
| Soil | ≥ 50:50 vol mix with soil/amendment (else temporary storage); high root-zone concentration OK if covered in agronomic context |
| Animal farming | Feed/bedding/manure additive OK if manure ultimately to soil; exclude energetic manure paths (horse/poultry caution); pet feed generally excluded |
| Concrete / mineral construction | Sink while structure exists; EoL landfill / recycle pathways detailed in §12.3 |
| Asphalt / composites | §12.4–12.5 + matrix positive list |
| Other | Only forms allowed by matrix positive list / §12.7 |
Matrix list: 4000078EN.pdf (v4_17, 28 May 2026).
Validation / verification culture
| Step | Actor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Product cert | EBC/WBC + endorsed lab + annual on-site | Prerequisite |
| Technical / C-sink controls | CSI tools + endorsed dMRV | Emission portfolio, efficiency, tracking |
| Validation & verification | Endorsed VVB (CERES-CERT AG highlighted) | PDD template on service page; public consultation while Ongoing Validation |
| Issuance / trade | Global C-Sink Registry; endorsed traders for transfer/retirement | CSI Overview |
Artisan track uses a distinct Manager endorsement → VVB path — CSI Overview.
Contrast with other BCR MRV cultures
| Theme | CSI | Puro | Verra | Isometric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit exists when… | C-sink registered after portfolio offset | After durable eligible use + Output Audit | After VCS V/V period | After storage verified |
| Product cert | Mandatory EBC/WBC | Characterization practice | Characterization practice | Characterization practice |
| Risk instrument | MoS + mandatory emission offsets | No default buffer % | VCS tools | Often 0% soil / small built buffer |
| CH₄ | Dedicated TCE temporary-sink rules | Method GHG accounting | Method GHG accounting | Method GHG accounting |
Deep peers: Puro Project Cycle and MRV · Verra VM0044 Project Cycle and MRV · Isometric Project Cycle and MRV · MRV Stack.
Primary links
- C-Sink 3.3 PDF
- Formulas & EFs
- dMRV endorsement
- Matrix positive list
- Service page / PDD
- Global C-Sink Registry