Introduction
Carbon Masters is a climate-tech and carbon management company initially founded in the UK in 2009 and subsequently expanded to India (from around 2012) as Carbon Masters India Limited (CMIL).
Their mission is to help organisations and communities reduce their carbon footprint by offering sustainable, low-carbon solutions – both in energy and agriculture – to aid the transition to a net-zero economy.
What They Are Offering
Carbon Masters operates at the intersection of waste-to-energy, clean energy, carbon management, and sustainable agriculture. Their core offerings include:
- Carbonlites – a circular economy product line that converts organic waste (food waste, municipal organic waste) into:
- Compressed Bio-Methane Gas (CBG / Bio-CNG / “Carbonlites Bio-CNG”) – a renewable fuel alternative to LPG, diesel, or other fossil fuels, suitable for cooking, heating, transport, and industrial use.
- Bio-Enriched Organic Fertiliser / Manure – a soil-friendly, nutrient-rich organic fertiliser produced from digestate (the by-product of the biogas process).
- Carbon Management & Advisory Services – including carbon footprinting, reporting, certification, and consultancy services to help organizations measure, manage, and reduce their carbon emissions.
- Carbon Reporting & Software Tools – they developed a tool suite named Carbon Guru, which organizations (companies, communities, buildings, events, etc.) can use to calculate baseline emissions, monitor, and report GHG footprints.
- Training & Capacity Building – via their in-house training arm Carbon Masters Training Institute (CMTI), offering workshops, courses and training programs in carbon management for businesses, institutions and individuals.
What Problem They Are Addressing
- Climate change & GHG emissions – by replacing fossil fuel consumption (for cooking, heating, transport) with renewable bio-CNG, they reduce CO₂ and methane emissions.
- Organic waste management – instead of letting food waste or municipal organic waste go to landfill (where it would produce methane), Carbon Masters converts waste into usable energy and fertilizer, thus tackling waste disposal and associated emissions.
- Unsustainable agriculture practices & soil degradation – by providing organic fertilizer, they offer an alternative to energy-intensive chemical fertilizers, helping restore soil health in a sustainable and climate-friendly way.
- Need for carbon accounting and transparency – as more businesses and institutions commit to net-zero targets, Carbon Masters helps them with accurate carbon footprinting, reporting and strategic carbon reduction planning.
Thus, their work addresses multiple systemic problems: waste, fossil-fuel dependence, emissions, soil health, and the need for carbon accountability.
The Team
Carbon Masters’ core leadership and management team includes Som Narayan, holding degrees in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Law and a Master’s in Carbon Management, serving as CEO & Co-Founder, and Kevin J Houston – Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, with a background in sales, marketing, and consulting.
Others in the team include senior executives and leads across functions: Strategy, Finance, Engineering/Design, Feedstock Procurement, Sales (CBG), Agriculture Division, Process Engineering, Plant Management, etc.
This makes for a fairly well-rounded team with expertise spanning technical, financial, operational, and business development aspects.
Business Model
Carbon Masters follows a diversified, multi-pronged model, combining:
- Product-based revenue – via sale/supply of Bio-CNG (Carbonlites fuel) and organic fertilizer.
- Consulting & advisory services – assisting organizations with carbon footprint measurement, carbon reporting, carbon management strategies, and “Net Zero” roadmaps.
- Software as a Service – through Carbon Guru, for organizations/institutions to monitor and report carbon emissions.
- Training & capacity building – through their training institute, offering courses/workshops on carbon management.
Effectively, their model blends circular economy manufacturing (waste → energy/fertilizer) with enterprise services (consultancy, reporting, training) – giving them multiple revenue streams and the possibility of scaling across sectors (energy, waste management, agriculture, corporate sustainability).
Why Climate Angels Invested in Carbon Masters
The global biogas market size, valued at USD 48.74 billion in 2023, presents a massive opportunity, given India’s abundant municipal solid waste production. Strong government policies like SATAT are giving the market a positive push, and the entry of major players like Mahindra and Adani validates its potential.
The focus on leveraging operational efficiency, innovative technology, and a strong distribution network positions Carbon Masters to capitalize on this high-growth sector and capture their share of the market.
The global organic fertilizers market is growing as farmers look for sustainable options to improve soil health. It was valued at USD 9.6 billion in 2022, and with declining soil quality and rising awareness, this market has strong potential.
By investing in this space, we aim to promote sustainable farming while capturing a growing market.
Financial Backing & Expansion Plans
Carbon Masters has established its presence in multiple geographies: originally in Edinburgh, UK, now with key operations in Bengaluru, India and Quito, Ecuador, and with plans for a Carbon Masters USA also on the horizon.
Carbon Masters India has recently secured fresh equity funding to scale up its circular economy solutions in renewable biomethane (bio-CNG) and organic fertilizer production under the Carbonlites brand.
Their strategic aim is to expand their operations along: increasing production capacity, processing more municipal organic waste, and rolling out biofuel and fertilizer solutions at scale in India, enhancing efficiency across existing operations, and building teams across sales, marketing and R&D.
Progress Made & Current Scenario
Carbon Masters currently processes over 36,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste annually across five CBG plants. They supply Carbonlites CBG to commercial kitchens, city gas networks, industries, and transport fleets, while Carbonlites Bio-enriched Organic Manure supports regenerative agriculture practices.
Their bio-CNG and fertiliser are operational and being adopted by clients in both energy and agricultural sectors, helping displace fossil fuels (LPG/diesel) and chemical fertilisers.
Their consulting, carbon-reporting services and certification schemes (e.g. via Carbon Guru and their “Carbon Masters Standard”) add to their offerings, enabling enterprises to track and reduce emissions.
Their multi-pronged model and recent funding suggest momentum, with potential scaling up of operations and wider adoption of their waste-to-energy + sustainable agriculture solutions.
Looking Ahead
The compressed biogas (CBG) sector in India is gradually gaining the attention it deserves due to its high potential of 40-60 million metric tons per annum (MMTPA).
Carbon Masters’ circular economy approach addresses multiple challenges at once: waste disposal, fossil fuel dependence, soil health, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Given their recent funding, existing infrastructure (multiple plants), and a diversified offering (products + services), regulatory tailwinds, they are well-positioned to scale – especially in India, where organic waste generation, energy demand, and agricultural needs are high.
Carbon Masters operates four CBG plants across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, serving ~40 daily customers and collaborating ~5,000 farmers. Over the period of 5 years, from March 2025 to March 2030, the projected revenue shows a steep upward trajectory, increasing significantly year-on-year and reaching nearly INR 400 Crore by March 2030.
As demand for circular, low-carbon solutions accelerates, Carbon Masters’ integrated approach positions it as a meaningful contributor to the global transition toward net-zero and resource-efficient economies.
