NextChem to Conduct Feasibility Study on Low-Carbon Fertilizer
Italian engineering group Maire Tecnimont announced that its subsidiary NextChem, which specializes in sustainable technology solutions, has been awarded a feasibility study and a pre-FEED (front-end engineering design) contract by FertigHy to use NX Stami Green Ammonia and NX Stami Nitric Acid technologies.
The FertigHy consortium, established in 2023, is composed of a cross-value chain combination of shareholders, including EIT InnoEnergy, RIC Energy, Maire, Siemens Financial Services, InVivo and Heineken. This consortium aims to drive the continuous decarbonization of the European economy.
The first plant to be built in France, which is scheduled to start construction in 2027, will produce 500,000 t/y of low-carbon nitrogen-based fertilizers, from hydrogen obtained by renewable and low carbon electricity. FertigHy aims to replicate this integrated concept in other European countries to potentially reduce single plant emissions by up to one million tons of CO2 per year.
Alessandro Bernini, Maire’s CEO, commented: “The fertilizers industry is a strategic sector for countries’ economies, and we are proud to contribute to its sustainability in Europe and globally. Maire, leveraging on the integrated approach ranging from the project development to the execution capabilities, can provide the fertilizer business with technology solutions that help the industry achieve the decarbonization targets required by EU regulations.”
