Microsoft and rock weathering pioneer UNDO announced a mega deal to permanently remove 15,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. It is an extension of last year’s contract, which was certainly comparatively smaller in size. Significantly, Microsoft will also enhance UNDO’s ongoing scientific research in the enhanced rock weathering (ERW) field.
Microsoft Fuels UNDO’s Carbon Removal Ambition
In 2023, UNDO started working with Microsoft to remove 5,000 tons of CO₂ by spreading 25,000 tons of basalt in the UK. This marked Microsoft’s first-ever Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) purchase. Now, the partnership has expanded.
Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy Markets at Microsoft remarked,
“Microsoft is committed to being carbon-negative by 2030. We are excited to support UNDO’s enhanced rock weathering carbon removal projects with co-benefits for soils, farmers, and rural communities. With this follow-on deal, we look forward to working with the UNDO team who will pioneer further deep science across different measurement techniques and at varying scales to deliver crucial ERW process data.”
Technically speaking, UNDO will spread 65,000 tons of crushed rock on agricultural land, including 40,000 tons of basalt in the UK and 25,000 tons of wollastonite in Canada, to further reduce CO₂ emissions.
So, what is enhanced rock weather and what’s its role in carbon removal?
Understanding Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)
Natural rock weathering (NRW) is nature’s own way of removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and permanently storing it in rocks. It has been occurring for millions of years.
UNDO has defined it scientifically as,
“As rain falls through the atmosphere it combines with CO2 to form carbonic acid. When this dilute acid lands on our soils, the CO2 mineralizes and is safely stored as solid carbon. The geological process of rock weathering removes 1 billion tonnes of CO2 every year.”
However, this process can be enhanced/accelerated through human intervention. This is where UNDO comes into play and thus, they named it Enhanced Rock Weathering.
Source: UNDO
So, what exactly does the company do?
They speed up this natural process by spreading crushed silicate rock on farmland. This increases the rock’s surface area, allowing it to absorb more CO2. Instead of taking millions of years, the process is shortened to just decades. Once the reaction occurs, the CO2 is locked away for over 100,000 years.
Furthermore, as the volcanic rock breaks down, it releases nutrients like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus that help crops grow and balance soil pH. This supports farmers by offering free soil improvements, creating green jobs, and strengthening local food systems.
Microsoft Supports Funding and Scientific Research for ERW
Microsoft’s partnership would help UNDO advance scientific research in measuring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) ERW-based carbon removal. This collaboration also provides crucial funding for field trials and monitoring sites in Ontario, including a research farm at the University of Guelph and UNDO’s main lab at Queen’s University in Kingston. Additionally, new trial sites will be established in the UK, including one at Newcastle University.
Jim Mann, CEO and Founder of UNDO, stated,
“This agreement with Microsoft signals to the market that enhanced rock weathering can deliver scalable carbon removal. With Microsoft’s continued support, we can enhance our research and data-gathering capabilities.”
Canada: UNDO’s Next Operational Hub
UNDO plans to expand its North American operations in Canada as it is becoming a strategic center for carbon removal. It has chosen Wollastonite as a mining partner for its fast-weathering feedstock for quicker data collection and optimizing the ERW process.
The company is primarily targeting rural communities. It is supporting the farmers facing challenges from climate change by providing crushed rock for free. At present it is operating in Southeast Ontario and plans to expand in Québec. This move will allow them to spread millions of tons of silicate rock each year, taking a crucial step toward large-scale carbon removal operations.
How is UNDO Raising the Bar for its ERW Carbon Removal Method?
We can comprehend that UNDO is committed to scaling its operations globally. The company gathers high-quality data from global partners and develops methods to measure carbon removal in different regions through strong partnerships and advanced technology.
Nonetheless, it has to demonstrate that ERW is a reliable, standard, and measurable method for permanent carbon removal.
Most significantly UNDO has partnered with Puro.earth, a top carbon removal registry, to establish Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) as an ICROA-accredited carbon removal method. But the company thinks this is not enough. This is why they are partnering with independent climate scientists and standard agencies to create the first methodology for ERW validation under ISO-14064. This groundbreaking effort is shaping new protocols for global ERW projects.
Similarly, with Microsoft as its partner, it can demonstrate itself as a reliable and trustworthy company to invest in. Such partnerships are also vital for funding in-depth scientific research and MRV processes.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has announced that the world needs to remove 10 billion tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere each year by 2050 to avert climate change damages. UNDO believes ERW could help eliminate about 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, contributing to 40% of this goal. This clearly illustrates that the deal with Microsoft is truly and undeniably valuable!
- FURTHER READING: Ørsted Secures Major Carbon Removal Deal with Microsoft
The post Microsoft and UNDO Partner for 15,000 Tons of Carbon Removal Using Enhanced Rock Weathering! appeared first on Carbon Credits.
The uranium price has continued its upward trajectory this week, climbing to 85.67 USD. This represents a solid 2.19% gain over the last seven days and extends the year-to-date performance to a 5.09% increase. After a period of consolidation, the market is witnessing renewed momentum driven by the converging forces of a widening supply deficit and escalating energy demands from the technology sector.
Uranium Price
Market Drivers for the Uranium Price
The primary catalyst behind the recent movement is the intensifying focus on nuclear energy as a critical solution for powering artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. As data centers expand globally, tech giants are increasingly seeking reliable, carbon-free baseload power, prompting a reassessment of long-term demand. Recent reports indicate that major utilities are accelerating their contracting cycles to secure fuel inventory, anticipating a squeeze as new reactors come online in Asia and dormant facilities restart in Japan.
On the supply side, geopolitical friction continues to tighten the market. Persistent restrictions on Russian nuclear fuel imports have forced Western utilities to pivot toward alternative suppliers, creating bottlenecks in conversion and enrichment services. Additionally, recent activity from physical funds—most notably a reported purchase of 100,000 pounds of yellowcake by Sprott—has removed spot inventory, adding immediate upward pressure to the uranium price.
Technical Outlook
Technically, uranium has firmly established support above the psychological $80 level. The breakout above $85 signals bullish sentiment, with analysts eyeing the $90 mark as the next key resistance zone. The 30-day movement of 8.27% suggests that buyers are stepping in aggressively on dips, reinforcing a strong uptrend. If the price can sustain a close above $86, it may open the door for a retest of the cyclical highs seen in previous years. However, investors should remain attentive to upcoming production reports from major miners like Kazatomprom and Cameco, which could introduce short-term volatility.
The post Uranium Price Today: AI Power Demand and Supply Deficits Fuel Rally appeared first on Carbon Credits.
The Lithium Price surged to a fresh two-year high today, closing at 170,999.81 CNY per tonne. This marks a significant 7.55% gain over the last seven days and extends a powerful year-to-date rally of 44.38%. After a prolonged period of consolidation, the battery metal has broken critical resistance levels, driven by a convergence of aggressive policy shifts in China and renewed supply constraints.
Lithium Price
Market Drivers for the Lithium Price Rally
The primary catalyst for this week’s 7.55% move is the sudden tightening of supply in China’s Jiangxi province. Authorities have canceled 27 mining permits in the hub as part of an environmental "anti-involution" campaign, effectively removing significant feedstock from the market. This supply shock coincided with Beijing’s announcement that export tax rebates for battery products will be cut from 9% to 6% starting in April. This policy shift has triggered a massive "front-running" effect, with manufacturers rushing to secure raw materials and export finished goods before the deadline.
Adding fuel to the fire, industry giant CATL reportedly placed a massive $17.2 billion order for cathode materials earlier this week. This demand signal has forced downstream players to cover spot positions aggressively, exacerbating the squeeze created by the Jiangxi permit cancellations.
Technical Outlook
Technically, the Lithium Price has staged a decisive breakout above the psychological 170,000 CNY level. The 30-day movement of 71.86% suggests the market is in a steep markup phase, fueled by short covering and panic buying. Momentum indicators are currently in overbought territory, but the fundamental supply deficits suggest support remains strong at the 155,000 CNY breakout zone. If the rally sustains, the next key resistance target lies near 200,000 CNY, a level not seen since the market began its correction two years ago.
The post Lithium Price Today: China’s Supply Crackdown and Tax Overhaul Fuel 7% Rally appeared first on Carbon Credits.
The Lithium price continued its explosive start to 2026, surging to 170,999.81 CNY per tonne on Friday. The battery metal has posted a remarkable 7.55% gain over the last seven days alone, extending a massive 71.86% rally over the past month. Year-to-date, lithium prices are up 44.38%, marking a definitive reversal from the surpluses that plagued the market in previous years.
Lithium Price
Market Drivers
Two primary factors are fueling the current rally: a surge in utility-scale energy storage demand and sudden supply constraints in China’s mining hubs.
- Energy Storage Demand Spike: While EV sales remain steady, the demand for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in energy storage systems (ESS) has outperformed expectations. Analysts forecast a 55% growth in ESS installations for 2026, driven by Beijing’s mandate to double EV charging capacity and grid storage infrastructure by 2027.
- Jiangxi Supply Crunch: On the supply side, Chinese authorities recently canceled 27 mining permits in the lithium hub of Jiangxi as part of an environmental crackdown. This follows the suspension of operations at CATL’s Jianxiawo mine, effectively removing significant monthly tonnage from the market just as downstream battery makers rush to restock ahead of reduced export rebates.
Technical Outlook
Technically, the Lithium price has decisively broken through the psychological resistance level of 150,000 CNY. The steep vertical ascent suggests intense buying pressure, likely exacerbated by short covering from traders who were positioned for a surplus. With the price now firmly establishing support above 160,000 CNY, market participants are eyeing the 200,000 CNY level as the next major target. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicates the metal is in overbought territory, suggesting potential volatility in the short term as the market digests these rapid gains.
The post Lithium Price Today: Energy Storage Boom and Supply Cuts Ignite 71% Rally appeared first on Carbon Credits.
Uranium Price Today: AI Power Demand and Supply Deficits Fuel Rally
Lithium Price Today: China’s Supply Crackdown and Tax Overhaul Fuel 7% Rally
Lithium Price Today: Energy Storage Boom and Supply Cuts Ignite 71% Rally
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