In a significant move towards sustainable environmental practices, technology giant Microsoft has announced a multi-year offtake agreement with Switzerland-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions provider, Neustark. The agreement, revealed today, underscores Microsoft’s commitment to combating climate change by investing in innovative carbon removal technologies.
Neustark’s Groundbreaking Technology
Founded in 2019, Neustark specializes in CDR solutions that utilize recycled materials, particularly concrete from demolished buildings, as permanent storage for captured CO₂. The company’s pioneering mineralization process accelerates the binding of biogenic CO2, captured from partnering biogas plants, to the pores and surface of recycled construction materials. These carbonated granules can then be utilized in various applications such as road construction or recycled concrete production, effectively sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere.
Scaling Impact and Environmental Goals
Neustark currently operates at 14 sites with a capacity of over 5,000 tons of CO2 per year and aims to scale its operations to capture one million tons of CO2 by 2030. Through the new agreement with Microsoft, Neustark will deliver 27,600 tons of carbon removal credits over six years, marking a significant milestone in advancing carbon removal efforts on a global scale.
Microsoft’s Carbon Negative Initiative
Microsoft’s collaboration with Neustark aligns with its broader initiative to become carbon negative by 2030 and to remove all historical emissions by 2050. The partnership with Neustark adds to Microsoft’s growing portfolio of carbon removal investments, which includes agreements with various providers spanning nature-based solutions, soil carbon removal, direct air capture (DAC), ocean-based carbon removal, and biochar-based solutions.
Advancing Sustainable Practices
Lisa Braune, Head of CDR at Neustark, emphasized the transformative impact of their solution, which repurposes demolition concrete into a carbon sink. Braune highlighted Neustark’s commitment to scaling its impact and advancing the CDR industry, with Microsoft’s support playing a crucial role in achieving these goals.
Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy & Carbon Removal at Microsoft, echoed Braune’s sentiments, emphasizing Neustark’s model for delivering high-quality and scalable carbon removal solutions. Marrs reaffirmed Microsoft’s dedication to sustainability and praised Neustark’s innovative approach towards achieving a sustainable future.
The partnership between Microsoft and Neustark represents a pivotal step towards addressing the global challenge of climate change. By leveraging innovative technologies and collaborative efforts, both companies are driving meaningful progress towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. As organizations worldwide increasingly prioritize carbon reduction and removal strategies, partnerships like these serve as exemplars of effective collaboration in combating climate change and preserving the planet for future generations.