Microsoft adds to record-breaking carbon removal deal

The expansion will result in 500k tonnes of annual carbon removals, and builds on a number of similar deals by the software giant recently

Microsoft has upped its record-breaking carbon removal deal with Swedish energy firm Stockholm Exergi. 

The US software giant has agreed to raise the amount of carbon removed under the 10-year agreement, which was originally signed last year, from 3.33 million tonnes to 5.08 million. 

This equates to 500k tonnes of carbon annually – the highest ever agreed.  

Stockholm Exergi’s plans to make the removals through a dedicated bioenergy plant with carbon capture and storage, which it estimates will cost SEK13 bn ($1.3bn) to construct.  

The plant, which is slated to become operational by 2028, is expected to have an annual carbon removal capacity of 800k tonnes. 

The carbon it captures will be temporarily stored before being transported to Norway and injected underground for permanent storage in areas below the North Sea.   

Microsoft signed several other carbon removal deals last month, including one with biochar producer Carba and another with bioenergy carbon capture and storage firm AtmosClear. 

It also bought reforestation credits from Living Carbon, and announced a 3.685m tonne deal with CO280, which installs carbon capture systems in pulp and paper mills.