Industrial gas major Air Products has urged the industry to reduce its dependence on ammonia-derived carbon dioxide (CO2). It stressed the need for biogenic alternatives and supply chain diversification to ensure long-term stability.
Speaking at the gasworld European CO2 Summit 2025 in Rotterdam, Harco Van Der Berg, Benelux General Manager Industrial Gases at Air Products, said, “We need to move towards a more resilient CO2 supply chain. Historically, we’ve been very much dependent on ammonia production for CO2, and that has been a good and stable source, but that is changing.”
Much of Europe’s CO2 supply comes as a byproduct of ammonia and fertiliser production, but decarbonisation efforts, rising costs, and plant shutdowns have made this source less reliable as well as a shrinking part of the mix in the long run.
Several ammonia plants curtailed production in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with high natural gas prices forcing producers across Europe to idle or permanently close plants, particularly in key ammonia-producing regions such as Germany and the Netherlands.
While ammonia plants remain a major source of high-purity CO2 today, attention is increasingly turning to biogenic CO2 as a critical component in the push for more sustainable sources and to maintain supply. Van Der Berg highlighted the growing importance of biogenic CO2, which is captured at biogas and biomethane plants.
“We need to make sure that we have biogenic sources of CO2,” he said. “We need to make sure that we have different sources of CO2 in place to keep this industry going in a sustainable way.”
Beyond sourcing shifts, logistics and regulation are also driving change. “Anticipate and prepare for CO2 capture and storage regulations,” Van Der Berg noted, stressing that industry players must adapt to new compliance requirements and transport infrastructure for captured CO2.
And he pointed to the need for investment in alternative CO2 sources and infrastructure to support the transition. “What we need to do is work together to make sure that we put the right infrastructure in place to keep these industries running,” he said.
Air Products is also focused on converting its CO2 distribution fleet to lower-emission alternatives.
“We have to work together as an industry to ensure we maintain reliable supply while reducing emissions,” he said.
