Microsoft’s carbon emissions continue to rise despite its desire to be carbon negative by 2030. The tech giant is struggling with the same problem as other players in the sector. That’s why Microsoft relies on Running Tide to divert emissions across the ocean.

Running Tide, which TechCrunch says is already working with Stripe and Shopify, among others, wants to store large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and eventually dump it in the ocean. To do this, the company wants to grow seaweed (algae) in bulk on biodegradable buoys. These algae store the CO2 and sink to the seabed over time. Microsoft has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Running Tide. Out of necessity, as a report shows the company’s emissions increased by 21.5 percent between 2021 and 2022.

Complicated process

Running Tide is very complex to operate. “We combine wood and alkaline minerals to make a little carbon buoy that we can seed with algae seeds,” Running Tide’s Jordan Breighner told TechCrunch. “The buoy floats in the ocean, dissolving the alkaline minerals, reducing ocean acidification and removing carbon through a process that improves the ocean’s alkalinity.”

“The algae grow quickly and absorb CO2. After less than three months, the buoy sinks to the seabed with the algae and encapsulated carbon. Once the buoy sinks deeper than a thousand meters, the carbon is gone for about a thousand years.” In testing and research phases, Running Tide has removed less than a thousand tons of carbon so far. The startup’s goal is to remove up to 12,000 tons in two years for Microsoft alone.

Scientists are worried

Carbon removal technology is still in its infancy. For example, it has not yet been proven that it can sustainably absorb carbon to the extent that Running Tide, among other things, wants to achieve. In fact, some scientists are concerned about the ecosystems. The large seaweed farms could cause unintended damage to marine ecosystems, according to the MIT Technology Review.

Still, it’s an interesting avenue for Microsoft to achieve its own goals. The company’s cloud and gaming business has grown exponentially in recent years. Accordingly, net emissions have also increased. Microsoft aims to be carbon negative in the next seven years. Whether the tech giant succeeds depends largely on its ability to remove carbon.