FertigHycompany founded by EIT InnoEnergy, RIC Energy, MAIRE, Siemens Financial Services, InVivo and HEINEKEN, has been constituted today with the aim of lead decarbonisation of the European fertilizer industry. FertigHy will produce low-carbon and affordable fertilizers for European farmers, directly responding to recent challenges in food security in the EU caused by the interruption of the supply chain and the uncertainty associated with the supply of natural gas.
FertigHywhich plans to build and operate several large-scale low-carbon fertilizer projects in Europe, has chosen Spain as the place to build and operate its first plant that will involve an investment of 1,700 million euros and will create 500 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs, as reported to Europa Press by sources in the sector, who have also indicated that the location will be communicated during the last quarter of the year.
Construction of the plant is scheduled to start in the 2025 and will produce more than one million metric tons per year of low-carbon nitrogen fertilizers from renewable electricity and green hydrogen. José Antonio de las Heras will direct FertigHy, bringing more than 25 years of professional experience, much of it in the fields of green hydrogen, renewable energy and natural gas.
The agricultural sector is responsible for 13% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and European farmers currently consume more than 11 million tons1 of nitrogenous fertilizers every year. In its “Communication to ensure the availability and affordability of fertilisers” of October 2022, the European Comission has identified the fertilizer sector as one of the most critical, and consequently supports the transition to low carbon fertilizers. FertigHy is an example of European industrial projects that have decided to invest in Europe for the decarbonization of the economy; in this case fertilizers.
The Commission’s initial response to the “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA) American has influenced the decision to establish operations in Europe, since FertigHy responds directly to the challenges facing the UE and aspires to become a European leader in the low carbon fertilizer sector. FertigHy will work to expand its operations in the old continent to reduce emissions by up to two million tons of CO2 per plant per year.