Vancouver-based Arca has signed an offtake agreement with Microsoft to deliver nearly 300,000 tonnes of durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) over the next decade.
The deal marks a major milestone for Arca’s industrial mineralization technology — a carbon removal pathway that leverages existing industrial infrastructure and repurposes alkaline waste streams to capture and permanently store atmospheric CO₂ as stable carbonate minerals.
“The next generation of clean growth will be built by Canada’s first-class innovation ecosystem – companies like Arca, which are turning Canadian ingenuity into global leadership,” said The Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “Carbon removal technologies are not only strategic tools we can use to tackle climate change, they create good jobs and position Canada at the forefront of the global opportunity of a low-carbon economy.”
Arca’s first commercial projects repurpose byproducts from mining operations—such as tailings and waste rock—to accelerate a natural geochemical process known as carbon mineralization, which transforms gaseous CO₂ into solid mineral form. This process delivers measurable, independently verified, and highly durable carbon removals while making mine waste safer and creating employment opportunities for local communities.
In 2025, Arca completed its first full-scale mineralization demonstration at an active mine site. The company is now expanding its project pipeline as it advances from pilot projects to million-tonne-scale operations—a trajectory accelerated by Microsoft’s long-term commitment.
“Arca was built on the foundation of more than 20 years of academic research, dozens of field trials, and collaborations with more than 30 mining companies around the world,” said Dr. Greg Dipple, Arca co-founder and Head of Science.
Why Industrial Mineralization Matters
Industrial mineralization offers a unique combination of scale, durability, and co-benefits. Billions of tonnes of historical industrial byproducts are already at the Earth’s surface, providing abundant feedstock for carbon removal. Because these processes can be integrated into existing industrial sites, they require minimal additional energy, land, or water.
The resulting mineralized carbon remains locked away for millennia, with rigorous measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) ensuring transparency. Beyond climate benefits, these projects reduce environmental risks and create new employment opportunities in host communities.
“This offtake agreement diversifies Microsoft’s carbon removal portfolio into a pathway that combines scalability and permanence,” said Phil Goodman, Director of Microsoft’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Program. “Arca brings notable scientific expertise and has demonstrated real-world success through its pilot project, giving us confidence to enter into a multi-year agreement.”
Founded on more than two decades of academic research and collaboration with global industrial partners, Arca is emerging as one of Canada’s most promising climate technology firms. With Microsoft’s backing, the company aims to help establish Canada as a global hub for industrial mineralization and durable carbon removal.