New business association Ammonia Europe has launched a voluntary certification scheme which aims to provide transparency to European customers on the carbon footprint of their ammonia purchases.
An Ammonia Certificate is issued for each tonne of ammonia with a product attribute declaration of the footprint and energy origin, such as hydrogen from electrolysis, biomethane or methane.
It uses a mass balance chain-of-custody system with optional ‘book and claim’ in the single market, and pilot audits at Fertiberia and Yara renewable ammonia plants.
With a decarbonised ammonia system targeted for 2050, the new body aims to foster collaboration across the continent’s value chain and unlock the potential of ammonia for climate neutrality. Eleven founding members are listed on its website, including BASF, Yara and OCI Global.
Europe currently operates 32 ammonia production plants and more than 30 ammonia terminals.
Stephen Jackson, Ammonia Europe CEO, said, “We need to spearhead the creation of economically viable and self-standing downstream ammonia markets in with the Draghi report and upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.” The latter is due to be launched next month.
Ammonia Europe President Marc van Doorn said without ammonia’s production, half of the current global population could not be sustained. “Today, ammonia is key to unlocking the decarbonisation of many sectors and will contribute to the resilience of the European economy,” he said.
