In order to accelerate the introduction of building materials with carbon -rich carbon via its data center via the Climate Innovation Fund (CIF) in the areas of data center, Microsoft has made an investment in the manufacturer of Green Cement manufacturer Forttera. The investment ensures the rights of Microsoft, Forttera of React with low-carbon and environmental and environmental attribution usertificates (EACS).
The decision is part of the company's long -term investment plan when achieving its negative goals of 2030, says Brandon Middaaugh, General Manager of Sustainability Markets & Climate Innovation Fund at Microsoft. “Company investments can help with jumping starts and scaling core markets such as low -carbon cement,” he adds. “Our team was attracted to Forteras approach because he has raised a reduction in deep emissions that raised competition costs and the expected compatibility with the existing production infrastructure.”
Microsoft tries to expand the market offer with low emissions and to create an early demand signal that can scale new carbon products across the sector.
Connor Woodrich, Kas Farsad and Ryan Gilliam in MicrosoftFortera
“The investment has two parts,” explains Ryan Gilliam, CEO of FORTERA, “a commercial agreement that Microsoft enables rights to buy React carbon cement from Forttera and at the same time buys environmental certificates. Portfolio.”
What is an EAC? EACs make up the carbon savings from the production of low -carbon cement. The EAC owner can then “book and use” these advantages of CO2 reduction in construction projects. This creates a way for companies to reduce the embodied carbon of their buildings, while 2) signals the demand for scaling the green cement industry.
According to Gilliam, Microsoft's data center strategy contains opportunities to reduce the embodied carbon of the materials that are included in the construction and expansion of your data center footprint. Carbon cement and concrete solutions are part of this strategy.
FORTERA's RECARB technology creates cement with 70 percent lower carbon dioxide (CO)2) Emissions compared to normal Portland cement (OPC), while the short-term cost-parity and performance standards are maintained. The technology records CO2 Released in the oven, while limestone is heated to calcium carbonate and then transformed into the reaction cement. It fulfills ASTM standards and can be mixed with OPC or used as an independent product. The company states that React maintains the same strength, defined time and durability as conventional cement and at the same time improves the processing and the river in certain mixtures. This means that concrete contractors can use it as well as conventional cement without being compromises for benefits or completion.
“Microsoft's cooperation with FORTERA corresponds to our goal of promoting new technologies for commercially available products,” says Gilliam. Microsoft has added: “In a number of sectors, he played a catalytic role in overcoming market barriers for decarbonization. Your investment shows how our complete system affects the area with low -carbon building materials.”
Erik Urosa, group manager for Impact Investments at Microsoft, will also join Forttera's Board of Directors observers.
In the investment by Microsoft, Forttera can build its first full 400,000 tons per year. A place has not yet been named, they say that it will be in the USA