Atlas Agro Fertilizantes, a Brazilian fertilizer company, announced plans to invest $850 million in the construction of a green hydrogen plant in Uberaba, Brazil. The plant, which will be the first of its kind in the country, will produce 500,000 tons per year of nitrogen fertilizers using green hydrogen.
The production process will use renewable sources such as wind and solar power plants. The construction of the plant is expected to start in 2022 and be completed by mid-2027. The company plans to build between seven and nine units of green nitrogen fertilizers in Brazil. The use of green hydrogen in fertilizer production will significantly reduce carbon emissions, making it an environmentally sustainable process.
According to Atlas Agro, the demand for nitrogen fertilizers in Brazil is mainly met through imports, and the manufacture of these fertilizers requires the use of fossil sources that emit more than one ton of CO2 equivalent for each ton produced. The production of green hydrogen through the use of renewable energy sources will significantly reduce carbon emissions, making it a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option for fertilizer production.
Atlas Agro has hired Clean Energy Latin America (CELA) to prospect and select suppliers of renewable energy that will be used in the production of green hydrogen. The company has signed letters of purchase interest with several customers and is expected to conclude zero-carbon nitrogen fertilizer supply agreements in the coming months.
The construction of the Uberaba plant is expected to create job opportunities and generate economic activity in the region. The investment will also contribute to Brazil’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint and becoming more sustainable.
Overall, Atlas Agro’s investment in green hydrogen for fertilizer production is a significant step towards achieving environmental sustainability in the Brazilian agricultural sector. The company’s commitment to using renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions will have a positive impact on the environment and the economy.
