The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) is joining the initiative for the global abatement of nitrous oxide emissions. At the Climate Summit in Paris in December 2015, the Federal Environment Ministry established the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group with the aim of halting climate-damaging nitrous oxide emissions from industry worldwide by 2020. Nitrous oxide is mainly generated during the manufacturing of nitric acid, which is a basis for many fertilisers. The VCI has now committed to advising companies on how to reduce nitrous oxide emissions. State Secretary Flasbarth commented: "We are delighted that the German Chemical Industry Association has signed the declaration on nitrous oxide abatement in nitric acid production. We have won an important partner to support the climate action initiative. This provides a valuable consultation service for nitric acid producers especially in Southern countries."
VCI managing director Dr. Utz Tillman explained: "The German chemicals industry has set the standards for sustainable production of fertilisers worldwide. The widespread use of abatement technology made it possible for our sector to reduce emissions of this greenhouse gas to a minimum. With modern catalyst technologies, the sector achieved a 97 percent reduction of nitrous oxide emissions between 1990 and 2014. We want to become an active part of the initiative by contributing our know-how and supporting climate action through the global use of this technology.
Nitric acid is a nitrogen compound that is being used for the production of fertiliser all around the world. Nitrous oxide (chemical formula N2O) is a greenhouse gas 264 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide (chemical formula CO2). The aim of the initiative is to retrofit all facilities for the manufacturing of nitric acid with nitrous oxide abatement technology by 2020. The technology is already available and comes at a relatively low cost. And what is more, industrial installations can be retrofitted quickly. The average abatement costs will be around one to three euros per tonne of CO2-equivalent saved. The VCI has now joined the initiative.