Tech-giant Microsoft has signed a 15-year contract with AtmosClear for the removal of 6.75 million metric tons (MMt) of carbon using AtmosClear’s bioenergy carbon capture & storage (BECCS) facility in Louisiana.
Microsoft’s carbon capture contract with AtmosClear is so far the largest in the world. The 6.75 MMt of Co2 is equal to the removal of roughly 1.5 million gas-powered cars off the road. This deal further pushes Microsoft towards its climate goals, and all-together setting a global benchmark to other corporate industry players.
Project factsheet
Location: Port of Greater Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Developer: AtmosClear
Cost: More than $800 million
Technology: Bioenergy carbon capture & storage (BECCS)
Annual carbon capture and storage: 680,000 metric tons per year
Microsoft’s deal: 6.75 MMt of CO2 over 15-year period
Start of construction: 2026
Project commissioning date: 2029
AtmosClear’s Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage Facility in Louisiana
Fidelis portfolio company, AtmosClear, whose mission is to frontier in clean-tech revolution will start the construction of their carbon capture facility in Louisiana in 2026. Backed by more than $800 million in investments, the facility will not only champion for climate change, but also support the local economy. This will be especially optimistic as the economic times are quite bleak.
As part of the latest release, AtmosClear has revealed plans to hold around 75 permanent jobs at the facility, and another 600 during the three-years construction phase.
Also in the package is the “significant revival” of forestry management jobs that were affected by mill closures in the area.
How will AtmosClear’s bioenergy carbon capture & storage (BECCS) facility in Louisiana revive the forestry management jobs? The answer is in their BECCS technology.
A look at AtmosClear’s BECCS Technology
BECCS is a negative emissions technology that combines the power of two important aspects. These are controlled bioenergy production from biomass like wood, crop residues, etc., and carbon capture and storage (CSS). Also at its core is the ingenious “net nagative” idea.
How does it work?
The BECCS facility will produce energy by burning biomass. AtmosClear’s Louisiana facility will use sugarcane bagasse and forest trimmings.
The CO2 released during energy production is captured, compressed, and permanently stored underground. The compressed carbon can also be used as feedstock for low-carbon natural gas or other synthetic fuels as AtmosClear has as an alternative.
Additionally, the CO2 produced in the preliminary bioenergy production stage is also absorbed by the growing plants themselves. This will be sugarcane and trees in AtmosClear’s case. The net carbon removal is therefore negative since more CO2 is ultimately removed by the BECCS facility than is emitted.
Also read: Latest on Ørsted’s carbon capture and storage facility at the Ørsted Kalundborg CO2 Hub in Denmark
Microsoft’s 15-year contract with AtmosClear for the capture of 6.75 MMt of carbon using BECCS technology now joins other progressive projects in the same scope. While it is the world’s largest deal, the Drax Power Station in the UK is also aiming to be the world’s first negative-emissions power plant.
Thoughts on the Microsoft-AtmosClear carbon capture and storage deal
The CEO of Fidelis, Daniel J. Shapiro, reinstated the importance of the BECCS facility in Louisiana and how Microsoft’s large carbon storage deal impacts the local communities. “AtmosClear [… ] can deliver meaningful climate impact while providing quality jobs, economic development, and other community benefits.”, Shapiro said.
Terming the large carbon capture and storage deal a “pathbreaking project”, Senior Director of Energy & Carbon Removal at Microsoft, Brian Marrs, also noted the impact BECC technology will have on the company. Especially in their strive to become Carbon Negative by 2030. “High-quality, durable carbon removal solutions from experienced developers like Fidelis are vital for Microsoft in progressing its goal to become Carbon Negative by 2030.”, Marrs said during the deal announcement.
