Gevo leverages Google Cloud to measure, verify biofuels carbon intensity

Gevo Inc. has entered into a partner agreement with Google Cloud to measure and verify the efficacy of next-generation biofuels across the supply chain via full lifecycle sustainability data tracking. Utilizing technology developed by Verity Tracking, a division of Gevo, the collaboration is expected to enable users to track and verify emissions using datasets and analytics tools from Google Cloud. The goal will be to help companies create a more data-driven approach to understanding and lowering greenhouse gas intensity globally.

Together, Google Cloud and Verity expect to work on product-level engagements to address market and customer needs. Utilizing Google Cloud’s analytics tools and Google Earth Engine’s multipetabyte catalog of Earth-observation data, Gevo and Verity expect to provide measured verification of asset-level atmospheric emissions reductions, renewable energy-powered electricity for processing, and land-use changes with soil quality and water impacts to support Gevo’s smart agriculture and carbon-intensity claims, from farm to flight.

“Data is the core issue in understanding carbon emissions,” said Larry Cochrane, director of global-energy solutions for Google Cloud. “Many organizations are prioritizing sustainability but are unsure how to track and measure climate data. Gevo and Verity’s advanced value-chain solution, complemented by Google Cloud’s leading data platform and tools, is uniquely positioned to track emissions and environmental factors across the full lifecycle, helping to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. We are excited about Verity’s technology and partnering with Gevo to better address this issue together with customers and drive a positive impact on the planet.”

Patrick Gruber, CEO of Gevo, added, “Understanding the full sustainability life cycle, especially that of greenhouse gases, is critical for energy transition because it provides the insight to solve the real problems, show proof of claims, and eliminate through data the speculation that occurs. Google Cloud and the Verity team are focused on working together to close the data gaps between smart agriculture at the farm level and measuring the carbon intensity through the full carbon lifecycle. We expect to build the technology and tools to track carbon intensity of renewable natural gas, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel, farming, and eventually forestry and forest products.”

Verity is looking to move this into an even broader realm, extending beyond biofuels for verification and tracking of scope 1-3 emissions and environmental factors for all industries.