Why 90% of carbon credit projects never find a buyer
Most carbon credit projects die in the gap between verification and sale.
You spend 18 months getting your project through Gold Standard or Verra. You get your credits issued. Then... silence.
The problem isn't demand. Corporates are racing to hit net-zero targets. Microsoft, Google, Stripe — they're all buying. The problem is discovery.
Project developers are invisible to the buyers who need them. Brokers add 15-40% markups. OTC desks prioritize volume over quality. And the "marketplaces" that exist? Most are glorified directories with no real deal flow.
Here's what actually works:
Direct access beats broker networks. When a corporate sustainability team can see your project details, pricing, and vintage directly — deals close 3x faster.
Transparency kills the markup. The broker spread exists because of information asymmetry. Remove that, and both sides win.
Community creates deal flow. The best carbon deals happen through relationships, not cold outreach. Project developers who network together co-list, refer buyers, and move inventory.
We built Energx Exchange because the carbon market deserves better infrastructure. Projects list, corporates discover, deals close — without the complexity.
If you're sitting on verified credits with no buyer pipeline, the problem isn't your project. It's your distribution.
