# Microsoft Partners with Alt Carbon for Carbon Removal Credits

**Published:** 2026-06-12T02:11:44.498Z  
**Topic:** Microsoft taps Alt Carbon in sign of India’s growing role in carbon removal  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/39d57b1a-7db0-46e4-8871-569c112a1806

Microsoft has secured nearly 37,000 tons of carbon removal credits from Indian climate tech startup Alt Carbon to support its environmental goals.

Microsoft has entered into a partnership with Indian climate tech startup Alt Carbon to secure nearly 37,000 tons of carbon removal credits [1]. This agreement marks a significant development for the startup, which focuses on utilizing enhanced rock weathering techniques to address climate change [1].

**Key takeaways**
* Microsoft is set to receive nearly 37,000 tons of carbon removal credits through its partnership with Alt Carbon [1].
* Alt Carbon utilizes enhanced rock weathering, a process that locks away carbon for over 10,000 years [2].
* The startup uses waste basalt rock dust from mines and quarries, spreading it on farmlands to remove carbon dioxide and improve soil fertility [2].
* Alt Carbon aims to remove 5 million tons of carbon from the region by 2030 [2].
* The company, founded by siblings Shrey and Sparsh Agarwal, previously raised $12 million in a seed funding round [2].

## Scaling Carbon Removal in India
Alt Carbon, launched in late 2023, originated from the Agarwal family’s efforts to revitalize their struggling tea estate in Darjeeling [2]. After initially exploring carbon markets to support the tea industry, the founders pivoted to enhanced rock weathering as a more effective climate solution [2]. The process involves applying basalt rock dust—a byproduct of the construction industry—to fields of rice, bamboo, and tea [2]. When rainwater interacts with this dust, it forms stable bicarbonate ions that are eventually stored in the ocean, effectively sequestering carbon for more than 10,000 years [2].

The startup has already conducted pilot programs on approximately 500 acres of land near their family estate and has since expanded its operations across North Bengal [2]. To manage logistics, the company utilizes existing freight transportation systems, such as rail and diesel trucks, to move the rock dust from volcanic igneous provinces to agricultural sites [2]. By integrating this process into existing farming practices, Alt Carbon seeks to provide both environmental benefits and increased crop yields for local farmers [2].

## Why it matters
The partnership highlights the growing corporate interest in high-quality carbon removal projects as companies work toward their sustainability targets. Alt Carbon’s founders have expressed a commitment to moving away from what they describe as "low quality" avoidance-based credits, favoring instead the permanent removal offered by rock weathering [2]. With a long-term goal of reaching 500,000 hectares of land and removing 5 million tons of carbon by 2030, the startup is positioning itself as a key player in the South Asian climate tech sector [2]. The $12 million in seed funding secured in 2025 provides the necessary capital to scale these operations and further develop their infrastructure [2].

## Sources
1. AndroGuider — [Microsoft Partners with Alt Carbon: A Milestone for India's Carbon Removal Efforts](https://www.androguider.com/2026/06/microsoft-partners-with-alt-carbon.html)
2. TechCrunch — [Alt Carbon scores $12M seed to scale carbon removal in India](https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/21/alt-carbon-scores-12m-seed-to-scale-carbon-removal-in-india/)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Microsoft Partners with Alt Carbon for Carbon Removal Credits", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/39d57b1a-7db0-46e4-8871-569c112a1806