The €1.3 billion Capex investment build is expected to be in operation by 2030 and will produce low-carbon fertilizers.
The production process will use renewable and low-carbon electricity to produce hydrogen, a substitute to imported natural gas. FertigHy will receive support from the French government to assist its kickstart operations in France. The announcement was made at the Choose France Summit, hosted by Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
Start in 2027
Construction of the factory will begin in 2027. Once complete in 2030, the plant will bring 250 direct jobs to the area and deliver 500,000 tons of low-carbon nitrogen-based fertiliser annually, which equates to around 10% of France’s agricultural sector’s consumption. A second FertigHy factory is planned to be built in Spain and shall become operational soon after the French one.
Green fertilizers are essential for transforming the food value chain and reducing carbon emissions. Yara's premium fertilizers already have a low carbon footprint, but their production currently depends on fossil sources. However, this is about to change. This year, Yara will introduce green fertilizers that are produced using renewable electricity instead of fossil sources. These fertilizers will be predominantly made from water and air, resulting in a 75-90 percent reduction in carbon footprint compared to same fertilizers made with natural gas.
By transitioning to green fertilizers produced with renewable electricity, we can reduce our reliance on fossil sources and work towards a food system that is free from their emissions. This shift will strengthen our food system, making it more resilient and less dependent on fossil sources, and bring us closer to a nature-positive food future.
The Impact of Amino Acid Fertilizers on Yield and Quality: Revolutionizing Crop Nutrition
Switching to green fertilizers will reduce the carbon footprint of certain crops by between 10 and 30 percent and, for example, by around 20 percent for wheat. This means that green fertilizers will also have the power to reduce the environmental impact of the food we eat – and give consumers more sustainable food choices. The carbon footprint of many food products can be reduced by between 10 and 20 percent and, for example, by 12 percent for bread.
About FertigHY
Launched in 2023, FertigHy is a pioneer in low-carbon fertilizer production, with its first plant to be located in France, and expansion plans across Europe. FertigHy was founded to address the decarbonisation of the fertiliser industry and support the food sector in its transition to decarbonise.
By integrating low-carbon hydrogen into the fertiliser production process, its proprietary solution will act to reduce emissions and boost food sovereignty amidst disrupted supply chains.
The company’s shareholders are EIT InnoEnergy, RIC Energy, MAIRE, Siemens Financial Services, InVivo and Heineken.
The agriculture sector alone is responsible for more than 10% of the European Union’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with European farmers using over 11 million tonnes of nitrogen fertilisers each year. The European Commission has identified the energy-intensive sector as key for decarbonisation, supporting the transition to low-carbon, affordable alternatives which are produced locally.
Backed by its founding investors EIT InnoEnergy, RIC Energy, MAIRE, Siemens Financial Services, InVivo, and Heineken, FertigHy plans to build, own and operate several large-scale fertiliser factories across Europe producing cost-competitive, low-carbon fertilisers for European farmers – starting in France.
