The Fertilizer Institute, Ammonia Europe launch carbon intensity certification programs

North America’s largest production sites certified

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has launched the Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity (VACI) program, a voluntary scheme where producers can certify the carbon footprint of ammonia production at a specific facility. Via a standardized approach, producers can calculate the carbon intensity of their product from feedstock production through to the finished product delivered at the plant gate. This carbon intensity score will be verified by an independent, third-party auditor.

Ammonia is a critical input for agriculture, NOx emissions control, and many commercial products, including fabric, paper, and pharmaceuticals. As agriculture and other industries increasingly look to develop more sustainable and resilient supply chains, the Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity program provides ammonia consumers with certifiable transparency that will allow them to quantify the positive impact using low-carbon ammonia has on their greenhouse gas emissions footprint.

TFI President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch in his organisation’s official press release, 19 Dec 2024

Facilities already certified under the program include some of North America’s largest ammonia production sites. Nutrien’s Redwater and CF Industries’ Donaldsonville plants have had their carbon intensities verified by SCV Consulting and TÜV SÜD America. Verification for carbon intensities of ammonia produced at LSB Industries’ El Dorado and CVR Energy’s Coffeyville plants are currently in progress. A sixty day public consultation period for ammonia consumers and stakeholders to provide feedback on the program and its methodology is still open until 16 February via this survey.

Ammonia Europe: verifying ammonia supply to the European single market

With the official launch of Ammonia Europe this month, the EU-based organisation’s certification scheme is now fully in focus. End-users in the European single market will be able to use the program to calculate GHG emissions footprint and trace the origin of the ammonia product. Producers will be able to use the voluntary scheme to attract EU customers. The scheme will run via a mass-balance chain of custody, with optional restricted Book & Claim available.

Both the TFI and Ammonia Europe schemes have informed the development of the AEA’s umbrella certification scheme, which is now progressing to the pilot stage. The three schemes share many of the same key stakeholders, and will be highly interoperable.