Lithos Carbon announced Microsoft as a return carbon removal customer, after signing a new, three-year agreement to remove CO2 using Enhanced Rock Weather (ERW) permanently.
Lithos Carbon’s latest agreement with Microsoft involves the permanent removal of over 11,400 metric tons of carbon.
The process of natural rock weathering captures CO₂ from the atmosphere, and ERW seeks to replicate and accelerate this natural phenomenon.
This method enables rainwater to interact with basalt, converting CO₂ into bicarbonate, ultimately reaching the ocean.
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Lithos Carbon applies basalt to agricultural lands, where rainwater reacts with the silicate rock, capturing CO₂ and releasing minerals that enhance soil health. The CO₂ is then sequestered as bicarbonate, providing carbon capture and soil enrichment benefits.
As of December 2023, Lithos Carbon delivered 500 tons of carbon removal for Microsoft, by deploying ultra-fine, organic-grade volcanic basalt rock dust on US farmland. This summer, Lithos Carbon deployed a novel carbon removal research field for Microsoft in collaboration with leading researchers.
Microsoft is targeting to become carbon negative by 2030 and is making significant strides toward this goal by entering into numerous renewable energy contracts and investing in carbon capture and removal projects to offset its historical emissions.
The agreement with Lithos Carbon is part of Microsoft’s comprehensive strategy to address climate change using innovative and scalable technologies.
This marks the third carbon removal agreement Microsoft announced this week, involving ERW.
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Additionally, Microsoft has finalized a follow-up deal with Undo, which will remove 15,000 tonnes of CO₂ by applying 65,000 tonnes of crushed silicate rock across the UK and Canada. This is Microsoft’s second collaboration with Undo, reinforcing its leadership in the carbon removal sector.
Moreover, Microsoft has partnered with Eion, which will achieve 8,000 tons of CO₂ removal over the next five years through its own ERW process. Eion plans to deploy olivine on Mid-Atlantic farmlands after the fall harvest, further strengthening Microsoft’s extensive carbon removal initiatives.
