Microsoft Inks Major Carbon Removal Agreement with Biomass Waste Management Company Vaulted Deep
In a groundbreaking move, Microsoft has signed a 12-year offtake agreement worth up to 4.9 million tonnes of durable carbon dioxide removal with biomass waste management startup, Vaulted Deep [5]. This deal, the largest-ever carbon removal contract to date, marks a significant step in the fight against climate change.
Vaulted Deep's approach to carbon removal is unique. By capturing and storing carbon dioxide durably, they transform biomass waste into a stable carbon storage method [5]. This process includes managing organic waste such as biosolids, manure, agricultural waste, food waste, and paper sludge.
The deal with Microsoft will enable Vaulted Deep to expand its operations to new sites across the U.S., a testament to the scalability of their solution. The storage process offered by Vaulted Deep provides a permanence of over 10,000 years, ensuring the carbon is removed from the atmosphere for the long term [5].
Microsoft supports Vaulted Deep's solution as part of its broader effort to accelerate durable, high-integrity carbon removal. Julia Reichelstein, co-founder and CEO of Vaulted Deep, made a statement regarding the new deal, expressing her excitement about the partnership and its potential to drive measurable climate and public health improvements [1].
This deal is one of several multi-million tonne carbon credit deals by Microsoft, making it the second largest corporate buyer of carbon removal credits globally, behind the Frontier buyers group [4]. The agreement reflects a broader shift in how carbon removal is being deployed, with large-scale existing infrastructure being utilised for novel applications, rather than relying solely on emerging technologies.
Vaulted Deep, spun out of Advantek in 2023, partners with municipalities, industrial operators, and agricultural producers to manage their organic waste. By sequestering the carbon-rich biomass and injecting it deep underground for permanent storage, they provide an alternative to incineration, landfill, or spreading on land [2].
The immediate benefits of Vaulted Deep's solution are not limited to climate change. Their approach stimulates local economies and addresses long-standing environmental challenges, making it a win-win for both the environment and the communities they serve.
References:
- Microsoft News Center
- Vaulted Deep
- Bloomberg Green
- Carbon180
- The New York Times
- Despite relying on established infrastructure, Vaulted Deep's strategy in carbon removal, rooted in environmental-science, is transformative, using biomass waste to store carbon dioxide durably, contributing to the broader fight against climate-change.
- The innovative approach of Vaulted Deep in carbon removal, supported by science, has caught the attention of the business world, with a significant investment from Microsoft, signifying the increasing role of finance in this critical technology-driven battle against global warming.
- Beyond tackling climate-change, Vaulted Deep's carbon removal process stimulates local economies, addressing environmental issues and promoting a sustainable, win-win solution for communities and the environment.
