Schiedam, The Netherlands / Kongens Lyngby, Denmark 14 January 2021 – End October 2020 Proton Ventures BV, an engineering company in the Netherlands specialised in ammonia technology, and Haldor Topsoe, global leader in catalysis, technology, and services for the chemical and refining industries, successfully started-up the first TertiNOx™ system at one of the biggest nitric acid producers in Southern Europe, Kavala Fertilisers LTD, Greece.
Nitric Acid plants are now globally striving to reduce both NOx (acid rain precursor) and N2O (298x CO2 equivalents) emissions.
Proton Ventures as the main engineering contractor, conducted the Basic (along with Haldor Topsoe) and Detailed Engineering Project for the deNOx and N2O reduction emissions in the major Nitric Acid production plant in Greece. Proton Ventures is procuring this combined NOx & N2O tertiary Topsoe catalyst (TertiNOx™) which is highly active for NOx removal and will ensure compliance with any NOx regulations while eliminating also N2O. The unique cooperation between Haldor Topsoe and Proton Ventures places the client as best in class concerning environmental emission from the nitric acid plant.
Cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
Apart from the environmental benefits, reducing N2O emissions from nitric acid units is a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and therefore save on CO2 tax credits. The new Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system managed to reach 99% conversion for both NOx and N2O while ensuring safe operations of the plant with a low slip of ammonia (<5ppm).
Best Available Technologies
‘With the new deNOx&N2O removal system, we are very proud to be able to outperform the current Best Available Technologies achieving extremely low emission levels‘, states Dr. Theodora Kouloura, Chief Operations Officer at Kavala Fertilisers LTD.
Environmental footprint
“The specific project has been of major importance for the plant and local community as it eliminated toxic emissions (NOx) present as a yellow plume for more than three decades. Additionally one N2O molecule counts for 300 CO2 molecules as a greenhouse gas equivalent. Therefor the environmental footprint of the unit has been dramatically reduced by 36.000 tonne CO2 equivalents. Seeing the people in the control room clapping has been a thrilling moment that justified all our efforts to retrofit this catalytic reactor,” according to George Dodoros, SCR Product Manager at Proton Ventures.
Fight climate change together with Proton Ventures
“We are thrilled to see the excellent performance and positive climate effect of Topsoe’s TertiNOx™ technology in its first application world-wide. Globally, it is very important to reduce emissions of the extremely potent greenhouse gas N2O as well as NOx, and this project has shown that TertiNOx™ does that in a very cost-effective and efficient way. We are extremely proud to fight climate change together with Proton Ventures and the customer,” says Janus Münster-Swendsen, Business Development Manager at Haldor Topsoe.
About Proton Ventures
Proton Ventures is a technology company that is working to make the global energy transition a reality. The company specializes in ammonia related technologies and products, including storage concepts for chemical and liquid energy carriers. Proton Ventures designs and builds pressurized ammonia storage facilities, small scale ammonia production facilities ‘NFuel’ units as well as SCR processes. For more information visit: https://protonventures.com/
About Haldor Topsoe
Haldor Topsoe is a global leader in supply of catalysts, technology, and services to the chemical and refining industries. Topsoe aims to be the global leader within carbon emission reduction technologies by 2024. By perfecting chemistry for a better world, we enable our customers to succeed in the transition towards renewable energy. Topsoe is headquartered in Denmark and serves customers around the globe. In 2019, our revenue was approximately DKK 6 billion, and we employ more than 2,300 employees. www.topsoe.com
*****************************
Media relations
Proton Ventures
Rianne Vriend-Vrijenhoef
+31 10 426 72 75
rianne.vriend@protonventures.com
Haldor Topsoe
Svend Ravn
+45 22 75 43 58
svra@topsoe.com