EU CRCF: The European Commission outlines the first three methodologies for permanent removals

Following last week’s policy newsletter, the European Commission’s adoption of the first three certification methodologies under the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation marks a significant step toward the EU’s first home-grown standard for permanent carbon dioxide removals.

The CRCF is designed to establish an EU-wide framework defining how carbon removals must be quantified, monitored, verified, and certified in order to be recognized under European rules. With this decision, the framework moves from high-level legislation into its first operational phase, providing clearer guidance for market participants.

What’s been approved

The Commission has approved three certification methodologies for permanent removals:

• Direct Air Capture and Carbon Storage (DACCS)
• Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
• Biochar

Methodologies covering carbon farming and bio-based storage are expected later this year, which would further expand the scope of the framework beyond engineered removals.

While participation in the CRCF remains voluntary at this stage, the framework introduces a strict “QU.A.L.ITY” benchmark, covering Quantification, Additionality, Long-term storage, and Sustainability. To qualify as “permanent,” removals must meet rigorous durability standards. For example, biochar projects must demonstrate a minimum 200-year storage timeframe to be eligible for certification.

Why this matters

• Policy certainty for developers
  The adoption of these methodologies operationalizes the CRCF following last year’s Implementing Regulation. For project developers, this creates the first concrete rulebook to design projects against, reducing uncertainty around eligibility, durability requirements, and certification pathways.
• A potential pathway into the EU ETS
  By July 2026, the European Commission is mandated to present a proposal outlining how certified CRCF removals could be integrated into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). This raises the prospect of CRCF certificates eventually being linked to EU Allowance (EUA) pricing, which would represent a meaningful shift in how removals are valued within Europe’s compliance architecture.
• Early demand signals for high-integrity removals
  Alongside initiatives such as the EU Buyers Club and tightening rules around corporate climate claims, CRCF certification could emerge as a preferred benchmark for European corporates seeking high-integrity carbon dioxide removals. Even while voluntary, the framework is likely to begin influencing procurement strategies, offtake discussions, and investment decisions.

What to look out for

Several developments will shape how the CRCF evolves in practice:

• Early project developers seeking accreditation under DACCS, BECCS, and biochar
• The CRCF Integration Report (mid-2026), which could act as a trigger for institutional capital
• Upcoming methodologies for bio-based construction and storage
• Progress under the EU Buyers Club, including long-term offtake agreements and investment into carbon dioxide removal and storage technologies

As the CRCF continues to develop, its interaction with compliance markets and its role in shaping Europe’s removals ecosystem, will be closely watched by developers, buyers, and policymakers alike.

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