Microsoft plans to bury 4.9 million tons of manure to help balance the carbon emissions caused by its AI energy use

In an unusual yet committed strategy to meet its climate targets, Microsoft has joined forces with Vaulted Deep to store massive amounts of organic waste, primarily manure, sewage, and agricultural waste, far beneath the earth’s surface over the coming decade. They will be acquiring carbon removal certificates for a total of 4.9 million metric tons of CO2 that is absorbed through this method during the next twelve years.

Microsoft is using organic waste to cut carbon emissions

The article from The Wall Street Journal explains that the waste is transformed into a thick liquid and then pumped approximately 5,000 feet underground for secure storage, preventing harmful gases like carbon and methane from being released into the atmosphere. Typically, this type of waste would be burned, applied to fields, or disposed of in landfills; however, Vaulted Deep is finding a more eco-friendly alternative by repurposing it.

At present, their Kansas plant processes approximately 50,000 metric tons annually, and they’re actively planning to establish facilities in additional locations such as Colorado and the Eastern seaboard. In contrast to costly advanced carbon capture techniques, this method offers a more straightforward and economical solution.

The price of the credits wasn’t specified, but they have been sold for around $350-$380 per ton previously. This implies that the value of this deal could exceed $1.7 billion. Furthermore, Microsoft’s increase in AI and cloud usage has led to a 168% surge in energy consumption and a 23.4% rise in emissions since 2020. As part of its goal to become carbon negative by 2030, this project is crucial for them.

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2025-07-22 16:02