Immediate Access to Analysis of High-Quality CDR Projects

The Diligence Collection helps carbon dioxide removal (CDR) buyers and investors accelerate project sourcing, screening, and evaluation. It provides access to a curated set of high-quality ex post and ex ante carbon removal project reviews and diligences that have met Relae’s rigorous scientific quality standards. The Collection includes projects reviewed on behalf of Microsoft and other leading CDR buyers, as well as Relae’s portfolio projects. Only a select group of projects are included, as approximately 90% of those evaluated through our diligence process do not meet our quality criteria.

Subscribers can access executive summaries, project overviews, and key project data to efficiently identify and shortlist projects of interest. Once projects have been shortlisted, subscribers can purchase desk reviews or deep diligence reports directly through the application and/or request updated evaluations as projects advance and market conditions evolve.

Translate climate and energy transition commitments into practical decarbonization roadmaps that quantify trade-offs, prioritize interventions, align commercial objectives, and is designed to support alignment with applicable and evolving requirements.The Diligence Collection includes projects reviewed on behalf of Microsoft and other leading CDR buyers, as well as Relae’s portfolio projects. Each project is evaluated against the rigorous Criteria for High Quality Carbon Removal, jointly established by Microsoft and Relae, formerly Carbon Direct. Each project receives at least a desk review and, in some cases, deeper diligence, including a site visit. Only projects that meet Relae’s quality threshold are included. As of September 2026, Relae has reviewed more than 900 CDR projects, with fewer than 10% meeting our quality criteria for inclusion.

Relae’s diligence process has supported many of the largest and most sophisticated CDR transactions in the market. The Collection gives buyers and investors access to a curated set of CDR projects that have cleared a rigorous, science-based quality bar.

The Diligence Collection differs from rating agencies and market intelligence platforms in three fundamental ways.

First, the depth of our engagement. Many rating platforms optimize for market coverage, while Relae prioritizes rigor and project-level analysis. Our diligence process includes pathway-specific risk assessments, iterative project-level technical evaluations, and in many cases, site visits by leading experts.

Second, the expertise behind the assessment. Relae's evaluations are conducted by one of the largest in-house teams of scientists, engineers, and technical experts in the carbon market. Each report reflects the same multidisciplinary judgment Relae applies to its own portfolio and to supporting procurement decisions by the most catalytic buyers, not a generic scoring rubric.

Third, early access to emerging opportunities. The Diligence Collection includes projects that have been diligenced before receiving external ratings, giving buyers and investors early visibility into promising opportunities at the pre-commercialization stage, where many of the most consequential sourcing decisions are made.

Once a project has been identified and shortlisted, subscribers can purchase the associated desk review or deep diligence report directly through the application, or engage Relae directly for procurement support. Purchased reports are downloadable and provide continued access to the underlying diligence findings. Buyers and investors may also request refreshed evaluations or commission additional diligence tailored to specific procurement or investment priorities. Relae also offers bespoke procurement support services, including deeper evaluation and transaction support for shortlisted opportunities.

Please note that Relae cannot guarantee the future availability of credits associated with projects featured in the Diligence Collection, as project supply and market availability may change over time.

Yes, buyers and investors may commission Relae to conduct diligence on specific CDR projects based on their procurement or investment priorities. However, inclusion in the Diligence Collection is not automatic and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Inclusion depends on several factors, including consent from the commissioning client, approval from the project developer, and whether the project meets Relae’s Criteria for High Quality Carbon Removal following the diligence process. This approach helps preserve the independence, selectivity, and quality standards of the Diligence Collection.

Please note that inclusion in the Diligence Collection reflects Relae's assessment based on the information available at the time of review and does not guarantee project performance, credit delivery, future availability, or suitability for any particular procurement or investment decision.

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