Manufacture of Anhydrous Ammonia
Production of anhydrous ammonia via the Haber-Bosch process using natural gas, electrolysis-based hydrogen, or other low-carbon feedstocks.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation
The specific GHG emissions from ammonia production must not exceed 1.619 tCO2e per tonne of ammonia (EU ETS product benchmark). This covers direct emissions from natural gas reforming (both as feedstock and fuel), CO2 removal from the synthesis gas, and indirect emissions from electricity consumption. Emissions must be verified under the EU ETS Monitoring and Reporting Regulation (EU) 2018/2066.
Conventional ammonia production via steam methane reforming (SMR) followed by Haber-Bosch synthesis has a theoretical minimum energy consumption of approximately 20.9 GJ/t NH3 (LHV). BAT as defined in the Large Volume Inorganic Chemicals - Ammonia, Acids and Fertilisers (LVIC-AAF) BREF requires net energy consumption below 31 GJ/t NH3 for modern plants, with optimised primary and secondary reformers, efficient CO2 removal (MDEA or similar solvents), and waste heat recovery for steam export.
Emerging low-carbon routes include green ammonia (using electrolytic hydrogen from renewable electricity), blue ammonia (with CCS achieving above 90% capture rate), and biomass-based routes. Where CCS is applied, the captured CO2 must be permanently stored per Directive 2009/31/EC or used in long-lived products (e.g. urea for formaldehyde resins, not fertiliser where CO2 is re-released).
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Adaptation
A CRVA per Appendix A must cover the ammonia plant under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios over its remaining operational lifetime.
DNSH: Climate Change Adaptation
Physical climate risks must be assessed, including natural gas supply disruption, water scarcity affecting cooling and steam generation, and extreme weather risks to ammonia storage (which is subject to Seveso III Directive requirements).
DNSH: Water and Marine Resources
The activity must comply with the Water Framework Directive. Process condensate and cooling water blowdown must meet BAT-AELs. Ammonia concentrations in wastewater must remain below 10 mg/l (BAT-AEL from LVIC-AAF BREF). Demineralised water for steam generation must use efficient treatment processes.
DNSH: Circular Economy
Process CO2 can be captured and used as feedstock for urea production. Spent catalysts (iron-based synthesis catalyst, nickel-based reforming catalyst) must be returned to suppliers for metal recovery. Process heat must be maximised through steam export and integration with downstream processes.
DNSH: Pollution Prevention and Control
The activity must comply with the Industrial Emissions Directive and LVIC-AAF BREF. NOx emissions from the primary reformer must not exceed 100-300 mg/Nm3 (depending on fuel and burner type). Ammonia slip from abatement systems must be minimised. Start-up and shutdown venting procedures must include flare gas recovery. Ammonia storage must comply with Seveso III requirements for toxic substance containment.