Sweden – Fertiberia, Lantmännen and Nordion Energi collaborate to establish Sweden’s inaugural fossil-free mineral fertilizer production through the innovative Power2Earth initiative.
Power2Earth harnesses hydrogen-based production processes powered by renewable energy to pioneer the production of fossil-free mineral fertilizers. By leveraging electrolysis technology, this initiative aspires to minimize emissions throughout the production lifecycle, heralding a new era of sustainable agriculture.
Driving environmental impact
With an estimated potential to curtail emissions by a staggering 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, Power2Earth holds immense promise in mitigating the environmental footprint of Swedish agriculture. By adopting fossil-free hydrogen technology, this initiative is poised to carve a significant niche in the nation’s quest for sustainable food production practices.
During Hydrogen Trail Europe (Hyte22) we visited the green fertilizer production of Fertiberia in the south of Spain.
In Spanish Puertollano to be exact Fertiberia is already producing green fertilizers. The sun-drenched part of Spain seems ideal for the production of affordable hydrogen. Energy company Iberdrola produces hydrogen with a 20-megawatt electrolyzer using solar energy from parks in the immediate area. Because of the huge amount of sun, the power generated is cheap, making the production of hydrogen relatively inexpensive.
By binding the produced hydrogen to nitrogen from the air, Fertiberia produces the important building block ammonia for its fertilizer production. In Puertollano, this will allow Fertiberia to replace ten percent of its existing production. The intention is for Fertiberia to produce an increasing proportion of its fertilizer production in this CO2-neutral way. In Puertollano, but also in other places on the Iberian Peninsula. And even in northern Sweden, where solar energy will then be exchanged for hydropower.
