Tech-based Credits
Tech-based climate solutions for impact today and tomorrow
Technology has a critical role to play in tackling climate change – from proven solutions that reduce emissions today, to innovative technologies capable of removing carbon from the atmosphere for the long term.
But the most sophisticated technology is not always the right one.
A locally made cookstove designed around the needs of a community can be just as important as an engineered carbon removal solution. What matters is choosing technology that is appropriate for the setting, delivers measurable climate impact and can perform over time.
Our experience developing and working closely with projects gives us first-hand insight into what makes technology-based climate solutions succeed – and the expertise to help you choose them with confidence.
Additionality and impact
Real-world suitability
Delivery and scalability
Find the right technology for the job
Technology-based projects can avoid or reduce emissions by replacing more polluting technologies - or remove carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere and store it.
Some use simple, proven technologies to transform daily life and reduce emissions at community level. Others deploy sophisticated infrastructure or emerging technologies designed to remove and permanently store carbon.
There is no single right solution.
Our experts assess how the technology works, where and how it is being deployed, who will use it and what is needed for it to keep delivering over time. We then help you select solutions that align with your climate strategy, impact goals, risk appetite and pathway towards net zero.
Clean Cooking
Replace inefficient or polluting cooking methods with cleaner, more efficient alternatives that reduce fuel use and emissions while improving health, livelihoods and household resilience.
Safe Water
Provide safe drinking water through filtration and purification technologies, reducing the need to boil water while improving health and access to essential resources.
Renewable Energy
Expand access to clean energy through solutions ranging from community and micro-renewables to larger-scale generation.
Energy Efficiency
Reduce energy use and emissions through technologies that improve efficiency in homes, businesses, industry and communities.
Biochar
Convert sustainable biomass into a stable form of carbon that can be stored for the long term, while delivering benefits for soils and agriculture.
Engineered carbon removals
Remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using solutions such as direct air capture, bio-oil, biomass carbon removal and storage and enhanced rock weathering.
Emerging climate technologies
Support new approaches with the potential to tackle emissions that are difficult to address today and scale the climate solutions needed for the future.
Clean Cooking
Replace inefficient or polluting cooking methods with cleaner, more efficient alternatives that reduce fuel use and emissions while improving health, livelihoods and household resilience.
Safe Water
Provide safe drinking water through filtration and purification technologies, reducing the need to boil water while improving health and access to essential resources.
Renewable Energy
Expand access to clean energy through solutions ranging from community and micro-renewables to larger-scale generation.
Energy Efficiency
Reduce energy use and emissions through technologies that improve efficiency in homes, businesses, industry and communities.
Biochar
Convert sustainable biomass into a stable form of carbon that can be stored for the long term, while delivering benefits for soils and agriculture.
Engineered carbon removals
Remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using solutions such as direct air capture, bio-oil, biomass carbon removal and storage and enhanced rock weathering.
Emerging climate technologies
Support new approaches with the potential to tackle emissions that are difficult to address today and scale the climate solutions needed for the future.
Proven today. Scaling for tomorrow.
Technology-based projects can meet very different needs.
Established solutions such as clean cooking, safe water and energy efficiency can deliver measurable emissions reductions alongside immediate benefits for people and communities today.
At the same time, emerging carbon removal technologies are building the capacity the world will need to address residual emissions and reach net zero.
A balanced approach can support both – delivering impact now while helping scale the solutions needed for the future.
More than carbon
Technology-based projects can deliver benefits far beyond the tonnes of carbon reduced or removed.
Better health and quality of life
Clean cooking, safe water and access to cleaner energy can reduce household air pollution, improve health and make essential services more accessible – with women and children often among those who benefit most.
Stronger livelihoods and communities
Well-designed projects can reduce household costs, create local employment, develop skills and support greater economic resilience.
Innovation with real-world application
Carbon finance can help proven technologies reach more people while creating demand for emerging solutions, new infrastructure, skills and employment as these markets scale.
A pathway to durable removals
Engineered carbon removal technologies can provide increasingly durable ways of storing atmospheric carbon – an important part of the transition towards global net zero.
Not sure which solutions are right for your business?
We can help you build a balanced portfolio that meets your business goals and budget.
FAQs
- How do technology-based projects generate carbon credits?
Technology-based projects can generate credits in different ways.
Some avoid or reduce emissions by replacing a more polluting activity – for example, using cleaner cookstoves or electric cooking instead of burning traditional fuels, or providing safe water without the need to boil it.
Others remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it, using technologies such as direct air capture, biochar, bio-oil or enhanced rock weathering.
In each case, the emissions impact must be quantified and verified under an approved carbon standard and methodology.
- How do you know whether a technology is right for a project?
The right technology depends on the context in which it will operate.
We consider factors including local needs and behaviours, infrastructure, available resources, technical performance, maintenance requirements, economics and the ability of the project partner to deliver over time.
A technology that works well in one location may not be the right solution somewhere else.
- How do you assess the quality of technology-based projects?
Every project we sell must pass our due diligence process.
Depending on the project type, our experts assess areas including additionality, scientific and technical credibility, methodology, monitoring and verification, delivery capability, financial and operational risk and expected climate impact.
For community-based projects, we also look closely at how the technology is used in practice and the benefits it delivers for local people.
- How can I tell whether the emissions reductions are additional?
Additionality asks whether the emissions reduction or removal would have happened without the carbon project and the finance generated through carbon credits.
How additionality is demonstrated varies by technology. Our assessment considers the economics, barriers to adoption, project context and requirements of the applicable carbon standard and methodology.
- What are the main risks with technology-based carbon projects?
Risks vary significantly by project type.
For established technologies, they can include adoption and usage, maintenance, project delivery and whether the technology continues to perform as expected.
For newer technologies, risks can also include technical performance, scalability, cost, infrastructure and the ability to deliver carbon removals at the expected volume and timescale.
Understanding those differences is an important part of selecting the right projects.
- How durable are technology-based carbon removals?
Durability varies widely.
Some technologies prevent emissions from occurring, while carbon removal projects take carbon out of the atmosphere and store it. Depending on the solution and storage method, that carbon may be stored for decades, centuries or potentially thousands of years.
Our experts assess durability alongside the wider quality and risk profile of each project.
- Do technology-based projects benefit communities too?
Many technology-based projects deliver benefits well beyond carbon. Clean cooking, safe water and small-scale renewable energy projects can improve health, reduce household costs and expand access to essential services – often with particular benefits for women and children.
Larger-scale and emerging technologies can create skilled jobs, infrastructure and new economic opportunities as new climate industries develop.
- Do I need to choose between nature-based and technology-based credits?
No. Nature-based and technology-based projects can play different and complementary roles. Many businesses choose to build a diversified portfolio across project types, geographies and reduction and removal solutions.
Our experts can help you decide what mix is appropriate for your climate goals, risk appetite, impact priorities and budget.
