# Microsoft taps Alt Carbon in sign of India’s growing role in carbon removal — News, Sentiment & Analysis **Source:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/topic/microsoft-taps-alt-carbon-in-sign-of-indias-growing-role-in- **As of:** 2026-09-12 (UTC) **Sentiment:** neutral (50/100) **Sources analysed:** 9 As of 2026-09-12, TrendWatcher scores Microsoft taps Alt Carbon in sign of India’s growing role in carbon removal sentiment as **neutral** at 50/100, based on 9 news sources analysed over the past 24 hours. ## Summary Microsoft has expanded its carbon removal portfolio in India through two significant agreements aimed at supporting its goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2030. The company recently signed a three-year deal to purchase nearly 37,000 metric tons of carbon removal credits from the Indian startup Alt Carbon, which utilizes enhanced rock weathering by spreading crushed basalt on farmland. This follows a separate agreement with the Indian startup Varaha to acquire over 100,000 tons of biochar-based carbon removal credits over three years, a project that also seeks to mitigate air pollution caused by agricultural waste burning. ## Key points - Microsoft has secured carbon removal credits from Indian startups Alt Carbon and Varaha to support its sustainability strategy as its own greenhouse gas emissions rise due to AI and cloud expansion. - Alt Carbon’s agreement marks Microsoft’s first enhanced rock weathering deal in Asia, involving the deployment of basalt across approximately 80,000 acres of farmland. - Varaha’s biochar project aims to sequester carbon while reducing seasonal air pollution by converting cotton crop waste into soil amendments. - Both startups have implemented bespoke monitoring, reporting, and verification systems to meet Microsoft’s stringent requirements for carbon quantification. - The deals reflect a broader trend of international buyers increasingly sourcing verified carbon removal credits from emerging markets in the Global South. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is enhanced rock weathering? It is a carbon removal technique that involves spreading crushed silicate rocks, such as basalt, on farmland to accelerate natural chemical reactions that store atmospheric carbon dioxide as stable bicarbonates. ### Why is Microsoft investing in Indian carbon removal projects? India offers large-scale agricultural economies and significant volumes of biomass, providing opportunities for durable carbon removal projects that help Microsoft work toward its carbon-negative goal. ### How does biochar contribute to carbon removal? Biochar is a charcoal-like material produced from agricultural waste that stores carbon for long periods when added to soil, while also potentially improving soil health. ### What challenges do these startups face in the carbon market? Startups must navigate complex logistics involving thousands of smallholder farmers and meet rigorous, often bespoke, monitoring and verification standards to prove their carbon removal claims. ## Latest coverage - [Microsoft partners with Indian startup Alt Carbon for carbon removal](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/836f495d-cba9-4ae8-ab89-b74c28b67998) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft signs a multi‑year deal with Bengaluru‑based Alt Carbon to buy up to 36,920 tonnes of verified carbon‑removal credits from an enhanced rock - [Microsoft signs carbon‑removal deals with India's Varaha and Alt](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/070dda7f-d2fb-499c-9f10-b3c2a2501b8b) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft has agreed to buy over 100,000 tons of biochar credits from Varaha and 37,000 tons of rock‑weathering credits from Alt Carbon, highlighting its - [Microsoft Partners with Alt Carbon for Carbon Removal Credits](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/39d57b1a-7db0-46e4-8871-569c112a1806) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft has secured nearly 37,000 tons of carbon removal credits from Indian climate tech startup Alt Carbon to support its environmental goals. - [Microsoft signs carbon removal deals with Indian startups](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/06d0e497-f305-47c3-b475-27ffa10ece0f) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft has secured carbon removal credits from India's Alt Carbon and Varaha, highlighting growing demand for verified removal projects in the Global South. - [Microsoft signs multi‑year biochar carbon removal deal with India's](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/0f39778f-87a3-4187-b7e4-d78b52d2986a) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft will buy over 100,000 tons of durable carbon removal credits from Varaha, using cotton waste to make biochar in India’s cotton belt. - [Microsoft’s carbon‑removal deal shows industry recalibration, not](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/eb25aeb2-8896-4da2-81f8-d885e9babcc8) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft buys 650,000 t of carbon‑removal credits from BioCirc, while studies warn land‑intensive removal may clash with biodiversity goals. - [Microsoft signs 100,000‑ton biochar carbon removal deal with India's](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/e2edd7dd-2c26-4ede-9031-61c25cfb2fd3) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft will buy over 100,000 tons of biochar carbon removal credits from Varaha, targeting cotton waste in Maharashtra and aiming for 2 million tons removed - [Microsoft signs three‑year carbon‑removal deal with Indian startup](https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/ea133549-6ce2-4ee0-a7ed-85e058fbcea0) — neutral, 2026-06-12: Microsoft will buy 36,920 metric tons of carbon‑removal credits from Alt Carbon’s enhanced rock‑weathering project, marking its first such deal in Asia. --- Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Microsoft taps Alt Carbon in sign of India’s growing role in carbon removal — News, Sentiment & Analysis", https://www.trendwatcher.in/topic/microsoft-taps-alt-carbon-in-sign-of-indias-growing-role-in- (retrieved 2026-09-12).