Isometric Updates Carbon Removal Standards With New CO₂ Transport and Storage Rules

Carbon certification platform Isometric has released its Autumn Update 2026, introducing a new methodology to track carbon dioxide through shared transport infrastructure, along with four updates to existing carbon removal protocols and accounting modules. Published on 27 October 2026, the revisions aim to improve the consistency, traceability, and verification of carbon removal projects involving biogenic carbon capture, direct air capture, biochar, and underground biomass storage.

The update is part of Isometric's twice-yearly protocol revision process and adds requirements to document carbon movement, verify biomass feedstocks, and monitor long-term storage. Two modules have also been aligned with the European Union's Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Certification Framework (CRCF), supporting the development of more consistent carbon removal accounting approaches.

 

New CO₂ Transport Module Strengthens Carbon Accounting

 

The newly introduced Shared CO₂ Transport & Infrastructure Module v1.0 provides a common methodology for carbon removal and reduction projects using shared infrastructure to transport or temporarily store captured carbon dioxide. It is particularly relevant to biogenic carbon capture and storage (Bio-CCS) and direct air capture (DAC) projects where CO₂ from different facilities may be combined during transportation through pipelines, ships, trucks, or intermediate storage facilities.

The module establishes chain-of-custody and mass-balance requirements to track captured CO₂ through individual transport stages, allocating losses and associated emissions to participating projects. Developers must account for carbon released through leakage, venting,g and other losses before CO₂ reaches its permanent storage destination. Projects can also use documented information from third-party infrastructure operators, including monthly receipts and other monitoring evidence, to substantiate their certification calculations.

 

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Bio-CCS and Biomass Accounting Requirements Expanded

 

Isometric has updated its Biogenic Carbon Capture and Storage Protocol to version 1.5, enabling projects to use the new shared transport methodology and revised biomass accounting requirements. The update also clarifies how to measure captured carbon when facilities operate intermittently or collect CO₂ in batches. These changes accommodate a wider range of operational configurations while maintaining consistent accounting across carbon capture, transportation, and storage.

The Biomass Feedstock Accounting Module v1.4 also updates eligible biomass sources and land management practices. Purpose-grown feedstocks on marginal land, harvested standing biomass, and projects involving active landscape management can now qualify, provided they maintain or increase relevant carbon stocks. The module adds chain-of-custody requirements and excludes feedstocks from converted high-value ecosystems. It also offers an option to account for carbon that would otherwise remain stored in biomass over time.

 

Biochar Storage Rules Introduce 200-Year Assessment Period.

 

The Biochar Storage in the Built Environment Module has been updated to version 1.2, introducing revised requirements for assessing the durability of biochar incorporated into construction materials. Under the new methodology, carbon storage is evaluated over 200 years, covering the material's service life and its first reuse. This provides a more detailed assessment of whether carbon stored in building products remains protected throughout their expected use.

The revised module replaces default carbon-reversal models with project-specific assessments that consider biochar placement, environmental exposure, and end-of-life conditions. Biochar incorporated into concrete and subsurface asphalt layers remains eligible, while surface asphalt layers are excluded because wear can lead to carbon loss that cannot be reliably traced. The update also adds a contaminant risk assessment to evaluate potential environmental risks of incorporating biochar into construction materials.

 

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Salt Cavern Storage Monitoring Requirements Updated

 

Isometric has also revised its Biomass or Bio-oil Storage in Salt Caverns Module to version 1.3, expanding the methods available for detecting and quantifying gas emissions. The updated methodology lets projects use continuous gas detection alongside gas composition sampling conducted at least monthly.

The approach allows conservative estimates of methane and other carbon-bearing gas emissions using sampling data. This matters for storage projects, where monitoring potential emissions is necessary to demonstrate the integrity of underground carbon storage. The revised requirements provide additional monitoring options while maintaining the need for transparent emissions accounting.

 

Updated Protocols Apply to New Carbon Removal Projects

 

Isometric confirmed that the Autumn Update 2026 requirements automatically apply to new projects and projects that have not yet entered validation. Projects already undergoing validation or previously validated can choose whether to adopt the updated versions. The company also plans to incorporate relevant changes into the next version of its Direct Air Capture Protocol.

The revisions address several technical challenges facing the carbon removal industry, particularly where projects rely on shared infrastructure, complex biomass supply chains, or unconventional storage methods. More standardized accounting procedures could help developers demonstrate carbon storage outcomes and provide buyers with clearer information about the environmental integrity of certified removals.

The update does not announce a specific volume of newly certified carbon removals or certificates issued under the revised methodologies. Its significance lies in expanding the technical rules available for project certification and strengthening how carbon movements, storage durability, and potential emissions are measured and documented.

As carbon removal projects expand beyond individual facilities into larger infrastructure networks, transparent monitoring and verification requirements will become increasingly important. Isometric's latest revisions add methodological tools to assess these projects, and future project validation and certification will demonstrate their practical effectiveness.

 

Source: Isometric