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Ammonium nitrate (AN) is made up of ammonia and nitric acid. Its carbon footprint depends on the energy consumption and feedstock used in ammonia production, as well as the N2O emissions from nitric acid production.
The EU has defined “best available techniques” (BAT) for these processes. Using BAT results in a total emission of 3.6 kg CO2-eqv per kg N for fertilizers that use ammonium nitrate as the nitrogen source, which is the predominant case in Europe. This is 50% less than the emissions of an average European plant not operating with BAT. Plants outside Europe generally have even higher footprints. Yara's plants are rated amongst the most energy efficient in the world. Yara has also developed and implemented catalyst technology reducing N2O emissions from nitric acid plants by as much as 90%. As a result, Yara’s plants operate with a carbon footprint below 3.6 kg CO2 per kg N in AN. This applies to all fertilizers that use ammonium nitrate as their nitrogen source.
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Yara's N2O abatement catalyst is a key initiative in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2010_Carbon footprint of AN - Method of calculation(PDF, 71KB)
Carbon Footprint of Fertilizers(PDF, 522KB)
