Norwegian agricultural leader Yara has embraced biomethane as a sustainable substitute for natural gas in ammonia production. This shift slashes the carbon footprint by 75% compared to traditional methods reliant on fossil fuels. Yara targets an annual output of 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes of sustainable ammonia, sufficient for producing 15,000 tonnes of fertilizer per year.
Ammonia, a cornerstone of nitrogen-based fertilizers and industrial applications, is now being produced with biomethane derived from renewable resources. Waste from ethanol and sugar production, including vinasse and filter cake, forms the foundation of this process. The biomethane is produced by Raízen in Piracicaba, São Paulo, and supplied to Yara’s Cubatão Industrial Complex.
Minimal Changes, Big Impact
Daniel Hubner, Yara’s Vice President of Industrial Solutions, underscored the simplicity of the plant’s transition to biomethane. “The main change was replacing a fossil, finite molecule with a renewable, infinite one,” he said, highlighting that the infrastructure required little modification. He also noted Brazil’s vast potential for utilizing renewable raw materials like filter cake.
However, Mr. Hubner acknowledged the project’s limitations. Decarbonizing Yara’s entire plant would require scaling this initiative tenfold. While Raízen’s facility processes 60,000 cubic meters of biomethane daily, Yara’s plant demands 700,000 cubic meters per day.
Energy Transition Challenges
Rising natural gas prices in Brazil present ongoing challenges. “Natural gas costs are critical for ammonia production and much of the chemical industry,” Mr. Hubner explained. He called for government action to stabilize energy prices and make the transition economically viable. “Plans for the energy transition must translate into action to ensure competitiveness for consumers,” he said.
Partnerships Drive Market Development
Guilherme Schmitz, Yara’s Vice President of Marketing and Agronomy, emphasized the importance of fostering market demand for low-carbon ammonia. “We need consumers willing to pay for sustainable solutions,” he stated, pointing to partnerships as a way forward.
One such partnership, with the Cooxupé cooperative, is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of coffee production in Yara’s supply chain by 40% starting next harvest. The company is also exploring collaborations with agricultural and food organizations in coffee, citrus, and other crop sectors to amplify its sustainability initiatives.
Building a Sustainable Future
While Yara’s biomethane project is a promising step, scaling up remains a challenge. The company is committed to addressing energy transition hurdles and fostering collaborations to make sustainable agriculture more accessible and impactful. By leading initiatives like this, Yara is setting the stage for a greener future in fertilizer and agriculture.
