Rainbow Updates bioCCS Methodology to Align With EU's CRCF Framework

Rainbow, a European carbon registry approved by the ICVCM as CCP-eligible, has revised its biomass carbon removal and storage methodology to incorporate requirements from the European Union's Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) regulation. The update positions Rainbow among the voluntary carbon market registries building their frameworks around the EU's emerging permanent removal certification rules rather than treating them as a separate compliance track.

The revision, released in January 2026, updates Rainbow's biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) methodology to version 1.1. BioCCS sits inside this methodology as one of several eligible carbon capture modules, alongside biochar and other storage pathways, meaning developers can combine modules depending on their project's specific technology.

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The timing lines up with a bigger shift happening at the EU level. In February 2026, the European Commission adopted its first CRCF certification methodologies under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/285, covering three permanent removal pathways: direct air capture with storage (DACCS), biogenic emissions capture with storage (BioCCS), and biochar. It's the EU's first legally grounded, government backed standard for permanent carbon removal, and it's meant to give companies and investors a clearer benchmark than the patchwork of private standards they've relied on so far.

What changed in Rainbow's methodology

Rainbow's version 1.1 update restructured several sections to match what it calls "Standard Rules V7," including a new baseline scope section, revised risk mitigation triggers (now required for moderate risk projects, not just high risk), and tighter site audit rules. Projects issuing more than 5,000 credits a year now need an in-person audit, down from the previous 10,000 credit threshold.

Groups involved in shaping the EU's approach see the framework as filling a real gap in market trust. Aymeric Amand, Policy and Research Director at Carbon Management Europe, said CRCF certification for permanent carbon removal is a crucial step in building trust, particularly since there's still no compliance market for these credits.

Why alignment matters for developers

For project developers, methodologies that already track EU requirements cut down the extra work of proving compliance twice, once for a voluntary registry and again for any future EU-recognized claims. As certification schemes start applying for recognition under CRCF later this year, registries that already mirror the EU's accounting and permanence rules will likely have an easier path to interoperability.

About Rainbow

Rainbow certifies projects that either avoid or remove CO2 emissions, issuing Rainbow Carbon Credits (RCCs) tied to verified project outcomes. In 2026, the registry became the ninth carbon crediting program to earn CCP-eligible status from the ICVCM, a mark reserved for programs meeting the body's Core Carbon Principles for market integrity.