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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 20h

Risks include export-only models, water stress, and new supply dependencies. Policy must support clean power, early-stage innovation, demand for low-carbon fertilizers, and local value creation. Read more: fcarchitects.org/2026/09/30/n... and stay tuned for the full report in the coming weeks!

fcarchitects.org

New Brief | Green Hydrogen and Innovative Fertilizer Production: Towards a Win-Win Partnership in the EU & Africa - Future Cleantech Architects

Green hydrogen and innovative fertilizer production can support a more resilient and lower-emission food system in Europe and Africa. A new briefing from Future Cleantech Architects (FCA) and the Unit...

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 20h

Europe and Africa face different vulnerabilities – but also complementary opportunities. Clean fertilizer value chains could link abundant renewable energy, new production technologies and markets, while supporting food security and local development.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 20h

How can we change this? The briefing examines 4 low-emission pathways: • renewable hydrogen + flexible Haber-Bosch • plasma-based nitrogen fixation • electrochemical ammonia synthesis • carbon capture & storage All depend on abundant, affordable clean electricity, and a clear political commitment.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 20h

Trade adds another layer of vulnerability. ≈30% of the EU 🇪🇺 nitrogen fertilizer consumption is imported, with ≈70% of those imports coming from Egypt 🇪🇬, Russia 🇷🇺 and Algeria 🇩🇿 African countries import over 60% of their fertilizers overall.

Fertilizer vulnerability (Mingolla and Rosa, Nature Food 2025).

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 20h

Why is gas such a vulnerability? Natural gas can account for up to 90% of the variable cost of ammonia production. Wholesale gas prices rose tenfold in 2022 and remain around 160% above the average before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Fertilizer and natural gas prices (Source: DG Agri Fertilizer Dashboard).

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 20h

Nitrogen fertilizers account for 2.5% of global emissions. Around 40% comes from production, where natural gas and coal are used as feedstocks. The other 60% comes from potent greenhouse gases released after fertilizers are applied to fields.

The process for nitrogen fertilizer production and field-application, and associated emissions (Source: Gao et al. Nature Food 2023)

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 20h

Fertilizers help feed ≈half the world’s population. But nitrogen fertilizer production is still closely tied to fossil fuels and volatile gas markets. Ahead of an event with UN University Vice-Rectorate in Europe about a clean & resilient system on Oct. 12 in Brussels, here are the key findings🧵

Publication: Green Hydrogen and Innovative Fertilizer Production – Towards a Win-Win Partnership in the EU & Africa

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The session was co-led by Pauline Leroi and Patrick Cummins-Tripodi, with contributions from Marlène Siméon and Magnolia Tovar. Thank you to all participants for the thoughtful discussion. Stay tuned for our upcoming factsheet on shipping decarbonization!

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

4) Long-term offtake agreements and early investment in low-carbon bunkering infrastructure are concrete levers to reduce first-mover and stranded-asset risk.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

3) A significant barrier is coordination, even where technological solutions exist. Ship operators, fuel producers, and ports are each waiting for the others to move first.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

2) Conventional marine fuels remain difficult to displace on cost and energy density. Every low-carbon alternative involves a trade-off, whether in cost, technology maturity, energy density, availability or safety.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Key points discussed: 1) There is no single technology that can decarbonize shipping. The right fuel or propulsion pathway depends on vessel type, route, and power requirement. Strategies need to be tailored accordingly.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Coffee & Cleantech in Brussels on Decarbonizing Shipping 🚢 Our briefing for policymakers focused on one of transport’s hardest-to-abate sectors: shipping. The global merchant fleet has ≈116,000 vessels of at least 100 gross tons. The challenge: they still run almost entirely on fossil fuels.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

✈️ Aviation We explore multiple pathways for reducing aviation’s climate footprint, from sustainable aviation fuels to electric planes to tackling non-CO₂ impacts, including the significant warming effect of contrails. Read on the basics & the gaps fcarchitects.org/content/the-...

fcarchitects.org

The Basics & The Gaps Aviation - Future Cleantech Architects

The Basics & The Gaps - Aviation The Basics & The Gaps is the Future Cleantech Architects flagship series of factsheets and animations which aims to summarise the key facts and figures on some ...

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🇭2⃣ Hydrogen: a scarce resource needs a sectoral approach and prioritization guidelines. In 2025, the European Parliament asked us to assess rules defining low-carbon hydrogen. We presented our findings to MEPs, informing the scrutiny of the Delegated Act. Read more fcarchitects.org/2025/09/17/d...

fcarchitects.org

Delivering insights on hydrogen regulation | FCA presents technical in-depth analysis to the European Parliament - Future Cleantech Architects

Last week, Future Cleantech Architects (FCA) presented its in-depth analysis report on the Delegated Act for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from low-carbon fuels to the European Parliament...

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🏭 Steel Iron and steel are essential to modern life. Yet they account for up to 9% of global emissions. We focus on the innovations needed to change that, including electric steelmaking and optimizing the use of post-consumer scrap. Read our policy brief: fcarchitects.org/content/poli...

fcarchitects.org

Policy Brief on Decarbonizing Iron and Steel - Future Cleantech Architects

Learn about what the EU can do to decarbonize ironmaking, the highest emitting and lowest value-added step in the steel value chain.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🏗Cement & construction Alongside low-carbon options for cement, we promote structural efficiency: designing resilient and beautiful buildings with the same performance with much lower emissions and less materials. Read more on the challenge fcarchitects.org/construction/

fcarchitects.org

Construction Sector - Future Cleantech Architects

Discover our work on decarbonising the construction value chain: addressing cement emissions, driving innovation, and providing policy recommendations.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🔥 Industrial heat High-temp heat processes are vital for modern society and to achieve net zero. Yet generating 500-2000°C still mostly relies on burning fossil fuels. Contributing to the EU Heat Auction has been one of our most impactful interventions. Read more fcarchitects.org/content/deca...

fcarchitects.org

Technical Report on Decarbonizing High-Temperature Heat in Industry - Future Cleantech Architects

Technical Report on Decarbonizing High-Temperature Heat in Industry Future Cleantech Architects’ new technical report comprehensively compares the different technology pathways available for d...

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

🌊🌋 Innovative renewables We work to mainstream emerging renewables (e.g. next-gen advanced geothermal, ocean energy). With partners, we proposed the 5% innovative renewables target, incorporated into the EU’s RED III. Our focus now is deployment. Read our analysis fcarchitects.org/content/the-...

fcarchitects.org

The 5% Opportunity: Unlocking Europe's Innovative Renewables - Future Cleantech Architects

See how 10 EU National Energy and Climate Plans interpret and operationalize the 5% target of innovative renewables.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

⚡Energy Systems A low-carbon energy system needs reliable, affordable electricity and ways to store it. To complement wind and solar energy, we advocate for clean firm power (e.g. geothermal, hydro, nuclear) & long duration energy storage. Read our flagship report fcarchitects.org/content/clea...

fcarchitects.org

Clean Firm Power Report - Future Cleantech Architects

Learn why there is great value in developing and deploying complementary clean firm power technologies alongside variable renewables and other flexibility options.

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Future Cleantech Architects @fcafuturecleantech.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

👋 Hello, Bluesky! We’re Future Cleantech Architects, an independent climate innovation think tank. We work to close cleantech innovation gaps in sectors where cutting emissions is particularly difficult. We do that by connecting technical research with policy action. Here’s what we focus on: 🧵

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