Microsoft and Vaulted Deep Collaborate on Eliminating Approximately 5 Million Tons of Carbon Emission from Organic Waste through Organic Waste Utilization
Vaulted Deep, a pioneering carbon capture company, has developed a unique method for capturing CO2 by redirecting organic waste away from traditional disposal methods such as landfilling, incineration, or land application. This innovative approach, certified by the carbon registry Isometric, promises over 1,000 years of carbon storage durability.
The core of Vaulted Deep's carbon removal process involves injecting organic waste, including biosolids, manure, agricultural residue, and paper sludge, deep underground (around 5,000 feet) into stable basalt rock formations. Here, the waste mineralizes, trapping carbon permanently and preventing harmful contaminants like PFAS from leaching into soils and waterways.
This method not only removes CO2 from the atmosphere but also addresses the pressing issue of organic waste management. By diverting organic waste away from landfills, incineration, or land application, Vaulted Deep effectively prevents the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The technology is independently verified by Isometric, ensuring its durability and scientific validity.
Vaulted Deep's carbon removal infrastructure is flexible and can expand across industries and geographies while maintaining rigorous monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) and environmental safety. The technology can accept a wide range of organic wastes, including those too wet, contaminated, or variable for other BiCRS (Biochar, Carbon Capture and Storage) or BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) systems to handle.
Microsoft, following a "do our best and remove the rest" approach to carbon removal, has partnered with Vaulted Deep in a $1.7 billion deal to remove up to 4.9 million tonnes of CO2 over 12 years by scaling this technology across the United States. Vaulted Deep currently operates multiple permitted sites handling a substantial proportion of organic waste from cities and farms, such as Los Angeles and Kansas.
The U.S. produces about 200 million tons of organic waste every year, including food scraps, yard clippings, and paper products, most of which ends up in landfills. By partnering with Carbon Direct, a science-based carbon management group, Microsoft aims to make significant strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the broader goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030.
Vaulted Deep's technology has been operating safely since 2008 and is approved and permitted in multiple U.S. states. With its efficient carbon removal process, which releases just 0.05 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne sequestered, Vaulted Deep positions itself as one of the most efficient carbon removal technologies. The company has already removed nearly 18,000 tonnes of CO2 and diverted more than 69,000 tonnes of organic waste from surface disposal.
The market for carbon dioxide removal is growing rapidly, with analysts predicting a $14 billion durable CDR credit market by 2035. Vaulted Deep's carbon sequestration process, combined with its economic and job creation benefits, such as the 18 full-time local jobs created and more than $5 million in economic investment generated within its first 18 months at its Great Plains site in Kansas, makes it an attractive solution for both environmental and economic reasons.
In summary, Vaulted Deep's carbon capture technology offers a promising, scalable solution for carbon removal and waste management, with strong climate benefits in the United States. By redirecting organic waste away from traditional disposal methods, Vaulted Deep effectively removes CO2, reduces methane, and prevents contaminants from polluting soil and water. The technology's potential to substantially reduce organic waste disposal issues in the U.S. and contribute to national carbon emission reduction targets is significant, provided it is expanded widely.
- The investment made by Microsoft in Vaulted Deep's carbon removal technology, estimated to be $1.7 billion, will enable the scaling of the technology across the United States, contributing to the removal of up to 4.9 million tonnes of CO2 over 12 years.
- By partnering with Vaulted Deep's unique carbon removal technology, sports organizations and brands could both address the challenging issue of organic waste management and make significant strides in carbon removal efforts, thereby aligning with their sustainability goals.
