Google and Terradot Sign Brazil's Largest Enhanced Rock Weathering Carbon Removal Deal

Google has committed to its largest carbon removal deal yet, backing a Terradot project in Brazil that spans over 200,000 hectares in Rio Grande do Sul. The enhanced rock weathering project aims to generate one million tonnes of methane abatement credits by 2030 and one million tonnes of carbon removal credits by 2040. Methane reduction from rice paddies is a key focus, as rice cultivation contributes up to 12% of global methane emissions. The companies did not disclose credit prices, but a prior deal suggests around $300 per tonne, though Terradot says costs are dropping toward the $100 target. Verification remains a cost driver, with longer accrual periods potentially reducing expenses. The deal combines methane reduction with carbon removal, a first at this scale, according to Google's head of carbon removal. Terradot plans to expand the model to other rice-growing regions like India and Vietnam, with pilots in 2026 and commercial scaling by 2028. This project is part of broader tech industry efforts to offset emissions from AI data centers, but the $100 per tonne cost barrier still looms for wider adoption.