Microsoft has entered into an agreement to purchase over 500,000 tonnes of cement products from Sublime Systems.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sublime will supply up to 623,000 tonnes of cement products from its commercial factory and its subsequent full-scale factory over a six- to nine-year period.
Microsoft will use Sublime Systems’ low-carbon cement, manufactured with American-invented technology, to reduce emissions in its construction projects. The manufacturing process by Sublime avoids carbon emissions and other pollution without the need for carbon capture technology.
“In designing creative transactions such as this one with Sublime, Microsoft aims to accelerate the mass production and adoption of clean construction materials, enabling innovators to overcome the real, acute challenges of scaling in heavy industries with existing manufacturing capacity,” Microsoft vice president of global datacenter construction Jeff Leeper said.
“We need breakthrough, reimagined products like Sublime Cement at scale to reduce emissions, both at Microsoft and globally.”
Microsoft has a priority option to purchase and deploy Sublime Cement. This includes using cement products in various construction projects, such as data centres, office buildings, and other infrastructure.
The environmental attribute certificates (EACs) of Sublime Cement can be purchased separately from the physical cement material. Microsoft’s purchase of Sublime Cement EACs will be third-party verified. It’s expected to be managed on a future book and claim system.
“To reach net zero, the world needs innovative technology solutions like Sublime Cement. At Microsoft, our focus is growing the market for these solutions,” Microsoft director for carbon reduction strategy and market development Katie Ross said.
“While we prioritise deploying physical material whenever possible, this EAC approach helps both buyers and sellers overcome geographic, supply chain, cost, and other barriers that make it challenging to introduce new technologies.”
Sublime’s first commercial factory is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The Holyoke plant helps eliminate the scale-up risk of progress to a full megaton-scale Sublime plant.
“This purchase enables Microsoft to access Sublime’s low-carbon cement technology regardless of where their construction is,” Sublime Systems chief executive officer and co-founder Dr Leah Ellis said.
“This solves a previously intractable challenge for clean cement scale-up: the lack of long-term cement transactions contrasted with the immediate need for innovators to demonstrate bankable customers to fund their manufacturing.
“Microsoft is stepping up as the first customer for our future megaton-scale plant, enabling us to more rapidly build and scale Sublime Cement as a global, enduring solution for clean construction.”
