Industrial agriculture is a system-critical factor essential to survival. Nevertheless, 33% of global greenhouse gases are attributed to food production, with fertilizer production and application considered major contributors. K+S, a pioneer in sustainable and environmentally friendly mining, takes responsibility and, with C:LIGHT, offers CO₂-reduced potassium and magnesium fertilizers for the first time.

Potassium – the logical next step in CO₂ reduction after nitrogen

In addition to the important role of innovative nitrogen fertilizers in reducing the CO₂ footprint of agricultural products, the CO₂ footprint of potassium fertilizers can make all the difference, especially for crops with high potassium requirements such as sugar beet. This is where our C:LIGHT products come in.

C:LIGHT refers to the innovative power-to-heat (PtH) technology used at K+S sites. The power-to-heat principle is based on a simple yet effective concept: electrical energy and water are used to generate heat and water vapor. As part of this, the use of natural gas is replaced by electricity from renewable energies in one part of the manufacturing process. The energy carriers generated in this way, heat and steam, are used to produce C:LIGHT products.

By allocating the energy as part of a balance calculation, C:LIGHT products can have a CO₂ footprint that is up to 90% lower than that of conventionally produced products.

K+S is committed to using only renewable energies from Germany.

By using PtH technology, we not only contribute to the decarbonization of our fertilizers - as a major energy consumer, K+S also contributes to grid stability in Germany.

Power-to-heat plants play a crucial role in the expansion of renewable energies. Since the necessary grid expansion in Germany is subject to considerable delays, the short-term surplus of produced electricity increasingly endangers the stability of the grid.

Up to 90% reduction compared to conventional production

At K+S, as a primary producer, the majority of emissions arise directly from production and not from the use of primary products. With the PtH technology, up to 90% of the emissions (Scope 1 + 2 according to the GHG Protocol) can be reduced compared to a conventionally produced product (reference year 2020). The emission savings are achieved by switching the energy source from fossil natural gas to renewable energy. This is only possible by using PtH technology in the manufacturing process. This makes us a pioneer in the market for potash and magnesium products.

K+S uses internationally recognized standards to calculate its CO₂ emissions. A critical review of our calculation method was carried out by DEKRA Assurance Services GmbH on the basis of ISO 14040 and 14044. On this basis, the individual PCFs are aggregated at the level of the main group and reported in the declared unit "kg CO₂e per tonne of product".

Learn more about the measurement and calculation of our product emissions here:

C:LIGHT products from K+S can be manufactured with electricity from renewable sources. In particular, the steam required in the production process is produced in so-called power-to-heat plants using electricity from renewable sources and not, as before, with natural gas. Renewable energies are also used as far as possible to cover the remaining electricity needs of the production process. By accounting for the use of electricity from renewable sources, the product-related carbon footprint (PRCF) of C:LIGHT products is reduced by up to 90% compared to conventional K+S products. Accounting allocation means that the energy, heat and steam required in a spatial and temporal reference are assigned to the product. This means that the heat generated in the PtH boiler is assigned to the product within six months and only at those sites where the PtH boilers were also used in the respective production line. The CO₂ reductions relate to Scope 1 + 2 in accordance with the GHG Protocol, with the base reference year being 2020. The associated calculation method was verified on the basis of ISO 14040 and 14044. The electricity from renewable energies is generated in Germany and accounted for by acquiring and offsetting guarantees of origin from the German Register of Guarantees of Origin (HKNR).