Europe – FertigHy, a new company established by EIT InnoEnergy, RIC Energy, Maire, Siemens Financial Services, InVivo, and Heineken, is launching with the mission to drive the low-carbon transformation of the European fertilizer industry.
FertigHy aims to produce affordable and low-carbon fertilizers for European farmers, addressing the challenges posed by supply chain disruptions and uncertainties in natural gas supply that have impacted EU and global food security.
The company plans to construct and operate several large-scale low-carbon fertilizer projects, starting with its first plant in Spain. This plant, scheduled to commence construction in 2025, will utilize 100% renewable electricity and green hydrogen to produce over one million metric tonnes of low-carbon nitrogen-based fertilizers annually. José Antonio de las Heras, an experienced executive in the fields of green hydrogen, renewables, and natural gas, will lead FertigHy.
European agriculture sector
The agriculture sector in Europe alone accounts for 13% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. European farmers currently use over 11 million tonnes of nitrogen fertilizers annually. Recognizing the significance of the fertilizers sector in the context of sustainability, the European Commission’s “Communication on Ensuring Availability and Affordability of Fertilisers” from October 2022 emphasizes the importance of transitioning to low-carbon fertilizers. FertigHy’s establishment aligns with the EU’s efforts towards decarbonization, and the company aims to become a leading player in the European low-carbon fertilizer industry. Each FertigHy plant has the potential to reduce emissions by up to two million tonnes of CO2 per year.
The launch of FertigHy aligns with key EU initiatives such as the Fit-for-55 Package, REPowerEU, and the Green Deal Industrial Plan, demonstrating the company’s commitment to supporting Europe’s net-zero industry competitiveness. It also highlights EIT InnoEnergy’s dedication to addressing hard-to-abate industries and its success through the European Green Hydrogen Acceleration Center (EGHAC).
