Microsoft is doubling down on a controversial plan to seize carbon dioxide emissions from wood-burning energy crops. It introduced a contract with power firm Stockholm Exergi to seize 3.33 million metric tons of carbon emissions from a biomass energy plant within the Swedish capital in what’s doubtlessly the largest deal of its sort thus far — equal to taking greater than 790,000 gas-powered automobiles off the highway for a 12 months.
It’s supposed to assist Microsoft meet its aim of capturing extra planet-heating carbon dioxide than it produces as an organization by 2030 after which eradicating as a lot CO2 from the environment because it has ever emitted since its founding by 2050.
However the jury continues to be out on whether or not wood-burning energy crops truly assist battle local weather change or make issues worse. Outstanding environmental teams together with the Heart for Organic Range and Buddies of the Earth Worldwide have criticized the technique as a “false resolution.” And again in 2018, practically 800 scientists signed a letter to the European Parliament asking it to cease supporting the usage of wooden for bioenergy.
Outstanding environmental teams have criticized the technique as a “false resolution”
Exergi runs an influence plant in Stockholm that runs on wooden pellets and residue from forestry waste, often known as forest biomass. Since that gasoline comes from timber that may theoretically regrow to seize as a lot carbon dioxide as the facility plant releases by burning wooden, proponents see it as a carbon-neutral supply of power. The European Fee truly considers biomass burning its largest supply of renewable power, regardless that it’s been tied to deforestation throughout Europe and the US.
Microsoft and Stockholm Exergi are taking that concept one step additional by including equipment to the facility plant that’s presupposed to seize a majority of its carbon dioxide emissions earlier than it might escape into the environment. By doing so, they consider they’ll obtain adverse emissions — taking extra CO2 out of the environment than this supply of power produces. Unfavorable emissions applied sciences like this have turn into in style with firms attempting to offset the environmental impression of their carbon air pollution.
Microsoft declined to answer The Verge’s request for remark. It additionally didn’t make clear how a lot it could spend on the take care of Stockholm Exergi. However Microsoft has heard these considerations earlier than. It signed one other deal final 12 months with Danish power firm Ørsted to seize 2.76 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from a wood-burning energy plant in Denmark.
In Stockholm, development of the carbon seize tools on the energy plant isn’t slated to start out till subsequent 12 months — if Stockholm Exergi secures sufficient extra funding from different offers and authorities support. Then, it could take 10 years to attract down all 3.33 million metric tons of carbon dioxide agreed to within the contract.
Stockholm Exergi sees this deal as a giant stamp of approval for its carbon seize know-how. “It’s the strongest potential recognition of the importance, high quality and sustainability of our venture,” Stockholm Exergi CEO Anders Egelrud mentioned in a press launch.
