By Faridat Salifu
Microsoft has embarked on a transformative journey towards achieving its ambitious carbon-negative goals through a groundbreaking 6-year offtake agreement with climate solutions pioneer The Next 150.
In this landmark collaboration, Microsoft has committed to purchasing 95,000 tons of carbon removal credits from The Next 150’s innovative biochar production facility in Mexico.
Biochar, a stable form of carbon derived from heating biomass without oxygen, holds immense potential for carbon sequestration when buried in soil.
The Next 150, headquartered in Switzerland and founded in 2022, specializes in developing and scaling climate solutions projects in emerging markets.
At the helm of this endeavor is General Biochar Systems (GBS), a venture of The Next 150, operating the biochar plant in Guanajuato, Mexico.
GBS aims to revolutionize agricultural practices while promoting environmental sustainability.
Patrick Atanasije Pineda, Managing Partner at The Next 150, underscored the significance of securing long-term commitments like the one with Microsoft.
This partnership enables The Next 150 to mobilize large-scale biochar projects across Latin America, leveraging institutional finance and fostering creditworthy offtakes.
The agreement reflects Microsoft’s unwavering dedication to carbon removal, aligning with its vision to become carbon negative by 2030 and eliminate historical emissions by 2050.
Brian Marrs, Senior Director for Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft, hailed the collaboration as a pivotal step towards realizing the company’s carbon-negative ambitions through a diverse portfolio of carbon removal initiatives.
This strategic partnership between Microsoft and The Next 150 exemplifies the power of collaboration in driving impactful solutions to address climate change and foster sustainable environmental stewardship.