TFI unveils the Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity program

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has announced the launch of the Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity (VACI) program, which is a voluntary certification of the carbon footprint of ammonia production at a specific facility.

The VACI is the first program of its kind with the industry group saying it is designed to provide ammonia consumers seeking to reduce emissions across their supply chains with an independent and certifiable carbon intensity score.

TFI said the VACI certification framework will standardize the approach for calculating the carbon intensity of ammonia encompassing all aspects of ammonia manufacturing from feedstock production through the finished product at the plant gate.

Producers will use the VACI standard to calculate the carbon intensity of ammonia produced at their facilities then an independent, third-party auditor will then verify or validate that the carbon intensity score is accurate.

TFI president and CEO Corey Rosenbusch said ammonia is a critical input for both agriculture, emissions control and many commercial products including fabric and pharmaceuticals.

“As agriculture and other industries increasingly look to develop more sustainable and resilient supply chains, the Verified Ammonia Carbon Intensity program provides ammonia consumers with certifiable transparency that will allow them to quantify the positive impact using low-carbon ammonia has on their greenhouse gas emissions footprint,” said Rosenbusch.

Ammonia production typically uses natural gas as a feedstock for its hydrogen component and is an energy-intensive process with substantial carbon dioxide emissions as a byproduct.

Currently there are US ammonia producers who are investing in technologies to dramatically reduce emissions with the VACI enabling them to document the varying levels of emissions reduction these technologies provide.

The VACI program was developed by TFI in collaboration with technical industry experts from producers CF Industries, LSB, Nutrien, OCI and Yara with guidance from Hinicio, a strategic and technical consulting firm specializing in hydrogen and its derivatives and industrial decarbonization.

Facilities certified under the program include Nutrien at Redwater in Canada and CF Industries in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, with audits that have been completed.

Audits for LSB Industries in El Dorado, Arkansas, and CVR Energy in Coffeyville, Kansas, in progress.

TFI said the VACI is undertaking a 60-day public consultation period for ammonia consumers and stakeholders to provide feedback on the program and its methodology and intends to refine the program based on comments received.