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# Microsoft Teams Up with Ebb Carbon to Pioneer Ocean-Based Carbon Removal Solutions
- URL: https://venture-block.com/microsoft-teams-up-with-ebb-carbon-to-pioneer-ocean-based-carbon-removal-solutions-2/
- Published: 2024-10-24T21:00:16.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T11:24:11.000Z
- Author: Venture Block
- Tags: Science

A groundbreaking partnership between Microsoft and a marine carbon removal startup has been established on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula, with plans to sequester up to 350,000 tons of carbon dioxide over the next ten years. The initiative, led by South San Francisco-based Ebb Carbon, employs innovative technology at their pilot facility in Sequim, Washington, where they collaborate with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The technology, which has roots in winemaking and wastewater treatment, focuses on altering ocean chemistry to enhance its natural carbon-capturing abilities. By creating more alkaline conditions in seawater, the process enables the ocean to store carbon dioxide more effectively while simultaneously addressing ocean acidification concerns.

The initial agreement encompasses 1,333 tons of carbon removal, with Microsoft retaining the option to expand its purchase of removal credits. Brian Marrs, who leads Microsoft’s Energy and Carbon Removal initiatives, emphasized the ocean’s vital role in carbon cycling and praised Ebb Carbon’s approach to leveraging the ocean’s natural properties for carbon storage.

Ebb Carbon, which launched its operations four years ago with $22 million in investor funding, represents one of 18 startups currently exploring oceanic solutions for carbon removal. The company’s method, known as “ocean alkalinity enhancement,” transforms CO2 into bicarbonate ions through chemical processes in seawater.

This agreement adds to Microsoft’s growing portfolio of carbon removal partnerships, following their pioneering long-term agreement with Climeworks in 2022 and a landmark deal with an Occidental Petroleum subsidiary in July 2023, which marked the largest single carbon removal agreement in history.

The timing of this initiative is particularly significant as Microsoft faces increasing energy demands due to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and generative AI technologies. These developments have complicated the company’s efforts to achieve its climate goals by necessitating additional energy-intensive data centers.

To ensure accountability, Ebb Carbon has partnered with carbon registry Isometric, which has developed the first-ever protocol for verifying carbon removal through ocean alkalinity enhancement. Isometric’s Chief Science Officer, Stacy Kauk, highlighted the potential of ocean-based carbon removal while acknowledging the complexities of monitoring and verification in marine environments.

The project faces several technical challenges, as noted by  
oceanographer David Ho. These include accurate measurement and verification of carbon dioxide removal, as well as calculating the ocean’s enhanced capacity to absorb atmospheric carbon after initial removal. However, Ho, who co-founded \[C\]Worthy to address marine carbon dioxide removal accounting, suggests that ocean-based approaches may have greater potential for scaling compared to terrestrial solutions.

This initiative aligns with a growing trend of technology companies seeking innovative solutions to address climate change, particularly as their operational footprints expand with advancing technologies. The partnership represents a significant step forward in exploring ocean-based climate solutions, while also highlighting the importance of robust verification systems in the evolving carbon removal industry.

The collaboration between Microsoft and Ebb Carbon demonstrates the increasing interest in leveraging natural systems for climate mitigation, while also underscoring the need for careful monitoring and verification of carbon removal projects. As the carbon offset and removal sector continues to mature, such partnerships may provide valuable insights into the scalability and effectiveness of  
ocean-based climate solutions.