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Feeding fossil fuels to the soil

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  • Ramírez, C.A.
  • Worrell, E.

Abstract

In this paper, we assess energy demand due to fertilizer consumption in the period 1961–2001. Based on historical trends of gross energy requirements, we calculated that in 2001, global energy embedded in fertilizer consumption amounted to 3660 PJ, which represents about 1% of the global energy demand. Total energy demand has increased at an average rate of 3.8% p.a. Drivers behind the trend are rising fertilizer consumption and a shift towards more energy intensive fertilizers. Our results show that despite significant energy efficiency improvements in fertilizer manufacture (with exception of phosphate fertilizer in the last 20 years) improvements in energy efficiency have not been sufficient to offset growing energy demand due to rising fertilizer consumption. Furthermore, we found that specific energy consumption of ammonia and urea developed in close concordance with the learning curve model, showing progress ratios of 71% for ammonia production and 88% for urea. This suggests an alternative approach for including technological change in energy intensive industries in middle and long-term models dealing with energy consumption and CO2 emissions, while few learning curves exist for energy efficiency of end use technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ramírez, C.A. & Worrell, E., 2006. "Feeding fossil fuels to the soil," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 75-93.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:46:y:2006:i:1:p:75-93
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.06.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marvin B. Lieberman, 1989. "The learning curve, technology barriers to entry, and competitive survival in the chemical processing industries," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(5), pages 431-447, September.
    2. Worrell, E. & Blok, K., 1994. "Energy savings in the nitrogen fertilizer industry in the Netherlands," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 195-209.
    3. Junginger, M. & Faaij, A. & Turkenburg, W. C., 2005. "Global experience curves for wind farms," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 133-150, January.
    4. A. M. Spence, 1981. "The Learning Curve and Competition," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 12(1), pages 49-70, Spring.
    5. Ang, B.W. & Liu, F.L., 2001. "A new energy decomposition method: perfect in decomposition and consistent in aggregation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 537-548.
    6. Ang, B.W. & Zhang, F.Q., 2000. "A survey of index decomposition analysis in energy and environmental studies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 25(12), pages 1149-1176.
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    1. Cecilia Roxanne Geier & Enno Bahrs & Christian Sponagel, 2023. "Derivation and Evaluation of a Business Model to Promote Carbon Farming That Generates Valid Carbon Removal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-30, November.
    2. Florian Ahrens & Johann Land & Susan Krumdieck, 2022. "Decarbonization of Nitrogen Fertilizer: A Transition Engineering Desk Study for Agriculture in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-24, July.

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