Thousands of European anaerobic digesters could produce ammonia locally, reducing reliance on volatile natural gas prices.
Europe’s fertilizer crisis, driven by surging natural gas prices, may find relief through existing biogas infrastructure. Thousands of anaerobic digesters across the continent already generate methane-rich gas near farms and food producers, but most currently burn or flare it rather than convert it into ammonia-based fertilizers.
The current model ties fertilizer production to global gas markets, exposing farmers to price volatility. While biomethane and combined heat and power remain dominant uses, redirecting biogas toward local ammonia synthesis could disrupt traditional supply chains and lower costs.
No immediate market reaction was reported, but the shift could ease input pressures for agricultural sectors if adopted at scale.