The US-based biochar firm Liferaft has finalised an agreement to supply Microsoft with one million carbon removal units (CRUs) over the next decade. Facilitated by the London-based marketplace Supercritical, the deal involves the production of durable biochar at large-scale facilities in Iowa and Illinois. The project employs pyrolysis to process agricultural and municipal biomass, sequestering carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
The resulting biochar will be blended with compost for agricultural applications, a process intended to improve soil health and crop yields while storing carbon for hundreds of years. To meet Microsoft’s environmental standards, all units will be tracked via monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) protocols and registered on an ICROA-endorsed registry following independent third-party verification.
Beyond the environmental objectives, the project is expected to create high-quality jobs and investment in the US Midwest. Liferaft has collaborated with local stakeholders in West Liberty and Muscatine County, Iowa, to align the project’s feedstock and location with community needs. Microsoft’s participation in the offtake agreement supports its broader corporate commitment to becoming carbon negative.
William Cowell de Gruchy, CEO of Liferaft, said: “We are excited to announce this transformative deal with Microsoft, which enables Liferaft to create (and provide training for) many high quality jobs in rural American communities. We are particularly grateful to the people and leaders of West Liberty, Iowa and Muscatine County, Iowa, for their incredible support over the past year of planning.”
Mayor Mark Smith of West Liberty added: “West Liberty is thrilled to welcome Liferaft to our community. From the very beginning, Liferaft has put community engagement front and center. They have worked with my office, and our WeLead economic center, from the earliest stages of planning.”
Phillip Goodman, Director of Carbon Removal at Microsoft, commented: “At Microsoft, we’re pleased about the Liferaft projects’ potential to pair high quality, durable carbon removal with meaningful local benefits. Liferaft has strong plans for putting locally available biomass waste to productive use, generating local jobs, and supporting farmers and land managers.”
