Green nutrients - mineral nitrogen based on renewable resources
Last changed: 05 November 2021
The production of mineral nitrogen fertilisers is the largest energy consumer in Swedish agriculture and is almost entirely based on natural gas, which is a fossil and finite resource. The possibility to manufacture mineral nitrogen fertilisers from renewable resources opens up new perspectives for sustainable and energy efficient crop production. Hydrogen can be produced from gasification of biomass but also via electrolysis of water powered by electricity from renewable sources. The hydrogen can together with nitrogen from common air be synthesised to ammonia, and then further processed to fertiliser products such as calcium nitrate.
The project started in 2009 and finished in 2011.
The aim of the project was to investigate the consequences and the possibilities for the agricultural sector when nitrogen is produced from renewable resources and self-produced raw materials. The work will be focused on possibilities for energy efficiency improvements, reduction of green house gases, land use, possible costs and time perspectives
The project is financed by the The Swedish Farmers' Foundation for Agricultural Research.
Participating from the Department is Serina Ahlgren.