FAQ

Why did the German Government launch the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG)?

BMU launched the NACAG at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 in Paris in order to incentivize both early climate action and long-term emission abatement in the nitric acid sector. The abatement of nitrous oxide (N²O) emissions from nitric acid production represents a low-cost mitigation potential, which in the past was widely exploited under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). However, since the collapse of certificate prices under the CDM, N₂O abatement projects have been put on hold and this mitigation potential now remains largely unused.

Why did the German Government decide to focus on nitrous oxide emissions from the nitric acid industry?

N₂O is formed as an unwanted by-product of the nitric acid production process and has a global warming potential (GWP) 273 times that of CO₂. However, these N₂O emissions can be abated relatively easily and usually at a lower cost than most other measures aimed at GHG emission abatement. Effective abatement technology is already widely available and can be installed quickly in existing plants. Given the magnitude of the challenge of climate change, we cannot afford to continue releasing emissions that can be avoided with such moderate effort.

What is NACAG’s vision?

Around the world, the majority of nitric acid plants still operate without N₂O abatement technology. NACAG is therefore incentivizing the installation and sustained operation of N₂O abatement technology in all existing nitric acid plants worldwide. The group is working to phase out global N₂O emissions from nitric acid production by supporting quick mitigation efforts and encouraging the regulation of the sector in partner countries in the future. NACAG’s vision is that all countries worldwide will cover N₂O abatement from nitric acid production in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

What does NACAG offer?

To encourage the nitric acid sector to phase out its N₂O emissions, NACAG offers technical support to governments, business organizations and companies, considering this particular mitigation action. It is providing technical advisory services on how to install, operate and maintain the respective abatement technologies. Moreover, NACAG offers financial support for the implementation of the physical abatement activity. This support does not only cover the procurement and installation of the abatement technology and the monitoring equipment, but also any necessary plant modifications and limited staff costs related to monitoring and maintenance. The financial support is provided under the condition that countries commit to sustaining the abatement activities in the future and is reserved for ODA countries with limited resources to procure abatement technology.

Who can participate in NACAG?

NACAG is open to all stakeholders – including governments, institutions and representatives from the private sector, who support the goal of abating N₂O emissions from nitric acid production in a sustainable manner. The group is also inviting countries and organizations to join the initiative as financing partners. In this way, they can help NACAG achieve its ambitious goals by increasing its funds.

What kind of technical support does NACAG offer?

NACAG offers technical support at both the government level and plant level.
The initiative provides governments with advice and support on the general technical aspects related to implementing abatement activities in the nitric acid sector as well as on the different options for their integration into national policies and climate change plans (e.g. inclusion in NDCs, national emission trading solutions, etc.). NACAG supports governments in implementing national-level structures required to effectively and sustainably maintain the abatement activities in the future.

At the plant level, the technical support consists of advisory services and direct support on the physical implementation of the abatement activity (feasibility and technical evaluation, choice of appropriate abatement and monitoring technology, etc.).

The NACAG Secretariat will support plant operators through experienced experts. As part of the technical support, and to ensure that plant operators have the skills and knowledge they need to meet future requirements, local plant personnel will receive training in the operation of the abatement technology and all its associated monitoring and reporting activities.

How can technical support be received?

For any requests on purely technical matters, please contact the NACAG Secretariat. We are happy to enter into a dialogue that may help advance the initiative’s goals and to offer support where applicable. We will consider all requests on a case-by-case basis and discuss possible further steps. Project owners or plant operators from countries eligible for financial support (under the NACAG Support Facility) will be provided with full technical support alongside any financial support they receive.

Why is NACAG of interest to the chemical industry?

Both from a technical and economic perspective, GHG abatement in the nitric acid sector is generally easier and less costly to achieve than other forms of GHG abatement. It, therefore, makes sense to tackle the sector’s emission reduction potential early on before moving on to mitigation options, which are more difficult and more expensive to implement. Given the international community’s goal to keep global warming below 2°C, it is highly likely that N₂O emissions from nitric acid production will eventually be abated in all countries. NACAG’s offer of support, therefore, presents chemical industry actors with a rare opportunity to access funding for the implementation of abatement activities. Once national regulations have been established to mitigate the emissions from this sector sustainably, the industry will not have to bear the considerable initial investment costs that these regulations will likely entail. Moreover, plant operators will have already gained experience in operating the technology and meeting monitoring and reporting standards. In short, NACAG intends to promote and kick-start the use of relatively cheap and easy-to-harness emission reduction potentials and, at the same time, help the nitric acid sector to prepare for the future task of sustainably mitigating process-related N₂O emissions.

How can one show support for NACAG and what does the signature of the NACAG Declaration entail?

Governments, institutions or private sector actors who want to show their support for the initiative and its objective to phase out nitrous oxide emissions from all nitric acid plants worldwide can sign the NACAG Declaration. By signing the Declaration, you show your support for the initiative’s goals. The signature does not entail any legal obligations. The official Declaration document can be submitted directly to the NACAG Secretariat. For more detailed information or to discuss your aims, concerns and possible next steps regarding your involvement, please do not hesitate to contact the NACAG Secretariat.

How do governments officially join NACAG and commit to supporting its objectives on a national level?

To join NACAG officially, governments ought to sign a document called Statement of Undertaking. By signing this document, they commit to permanently mitigate nitrous oxide emissions from their country’s nitric acid industry in the future. The statement includes the pledge to introduce regulations or incentive-based mechanisms, which ensure the long-term mitigation of N₂O emissions in the nitric acid industry of the country. While NACAG offers technical support to identify appropriate measures to achieve this objective, the final policy choice remains entirely with the sovereign government. The signature of the Statement of Undertaking is the prerequisite for the country’s nitric acid industry to be eligible to access funding for mitigation technologies through NACAG.

Do nitric acid plants have to fulfil certain requirements to be eligible for support from the NACAG Support Facility?

Plants are eligible for support if the government of the country in which the plant is located has signed the Statement of Undertaking. However, nitric acid plant operators will also undergo a technical, legal and financial due diligence assessment. In this process, the plant and its administration will be subject to a screening of aspects such as safety and security, compliance with environmental and quality standards, human rights, the technical status of the installation as well as financial stability and others.

As NACAG operates with public financial resources, this is a necessary step in order to minimize the risks associated with the investment. All findings of this process will be treated confidentially.

Does NACAG work with plants producing nitric acid for weaponry or military use?

Facilities associated with the manufacture of weapons or explosives that are not produced solely for civilian purposes are not eligible for any support from NACAG.

Will NACAG support projects that have previously participated in any of the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol?

Abatement activities that were previously developed under the JI mechanism can generally be supported. However, NACAG can support financially only projects in ODA eligible countries.

Is the initiative targeting existing or new abatement projects?

The initiative is targeting both existing and new abatement projects. Tailored technical and financial support options have been developed for both cases.

NACAG requires countries and plant operators to take on the responsibility of reducing their N₂O emissions in the future. What does this mean in practice?

The assumption of full responsibility for the sustainable continuation of the abatement activities and related emission reductions in the future by the partner countries is part and parcel of the NACAG initiative. Countries benefiting from NACAG’s financial support must ensure that N₂O emissions from nitric acid production will be abated permanently in the future. This can be achieved in a number of different ways. For example, governments could opt for national emissions trading schemes, taxes or enforceable emission limits. The choice of the instrument rests entirely with the partner country. Besides, countries are encouraged to include N₂O abatement in their Nationally Determined Contributions.

What role do NDCs play in the NACAG approach?

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) play an important role in the context of NACAG. They are the key instrument in the bottom-up framework of the Paris Agreement. Using NDCs is integral to NACAG’s approach because specific emission sources may be included in permanent national mitigation actions. Alongside its vision of incentivizing the installation of effective N₂O abatement technology in all nitric acid plants worldwide,

NACAG aims to ensure the achievement of permanent abatement. NDCs constitute the appropriate platform to reach this goal.

In short, why does NACAG exist and what is it trying to achieve?

Abating nitrous oxide emissions from nitric acid production is a highly cost-efficient option for mitigating climate change. N₂O abatement technology can be installed in production facilities relatively easily and at low cost compared to other mitigation options. Looking ahead, countries are to revise their NDCs and increase the ambition of their mitigation targets. NACAG is encouraging countries to integrate nitrous oxide emission abatement into their national policies and revised NDCs. This would lay the foundations for permanent emission reductions in the sector. NACAG incentivizes industrial N₂O abatement by covering the investment costs associated with installing abatement and monitoring technologies and providing partners with support on the technical, political and financial matters related to these emission reductions.

Who can benefit from NACAG´s offer?

NACAG offers advisory and general technical support to all countries and interested stakeholders intending to contribute to attaining the initiative’s goals. Financial support, however, is only offered to countries that need financial assistance. A country’s eligibility for official development assistance (ODA) is a necessary precondition for receiving NACAG funding. Additional criteria may apply. Another precondition for receiving financial support is the political commitment of the government to commit to climate-friendly transformation of the entire sector. At the plant level, additional eligibility criteria apply and a case-by-case due-diligence evaluation is conducted.

Which costs does the NACAG Support Facility cover?

The financial support provided in the framework of the NACAG Support Facility will cover all costs related to the actual technical implementation of the abatement activity. This includes the investment costs related to procuring the abatement technology and carrying out the necessary plant modifications and the procurement of monitoring equipment and its shipping, installation and acceptance test costs. If applicable, also staff costs will be funded.

How can chemical companies apply for funding from the NACAG Support Facility to finance N₂O mitigation technology for their nitric acid plants?

Plant operators can apply for funding by submitting a Grant Application Notice (GAN) to the NACAG Secretariat. The document includes detailed explanations of the funding process and an application form that needs to be completed with basic technical information about the plant. After a first assessment and approval of the submitted GAN, the NACAG Secretariat will carry out a comprehensive technical and commercial due diligence process before signing a Grant Agreement with the plant operator, which frames the funding process and the installation of the mitigation technology.

What are the next steps after nitric acid plants have applied for funding?

After the signature of the Grant Application Notice by the plant operator, the NACAG Secretariat initiates the steps towards signing a grant agreement for the abatement technology. The plant operator is free to decide which abatement technology is most appropriate for the individual plant. NACAG will provide technical advice to support this decision. The NACAG Secretariat will conduct a due diligence assessment. If the outcome of this assessment is positive, a grant agreement can be signed between GIZ and the plant operator, which will cover all costs related to the abatement of N₂O emissions (under the condition that the country’s government has signed the Statement of Undertaking (SoU)). As a next step, the plant operator will collect offers for the abatement technology through a competitive tender process. Once a supplier has been selected, that plant operator will directly conclude a contract with the supplier of the abatement technology.

Who will decide on the choice of abatement technology?

In general, the decision which technical approach (secondary or tertiary catalyst) will be employed remains with the plant operator. BMU and NACAG are both technology-neutral and provider neutral, which means they will not prescribe any specific technology or provider to plant owners. However, to secure financial support, the owners must consider all relevant technical and economic aspects and demonstrate that their requirements are reasonable. The NACAG Secretariat can provide interested parties with access to experts who can offer advice and consultancy on the choice of appropriate technology. It is required that companies set up an official public tender process and select the technology provider in this process.

What is the global warming potential (GWP) of N₂O?

The GWP on a 100-year time horizon is expressed in relation to the potential climate impact of CO₂. Currently, three different values for the GWP of N₂O are being used. All of these have been determined by the IPCC but have been updated over time, resulting in a situation where different regulations refer to different values (usually the most recent at the time of release). In its Sixth Assessment Report (the most recent, published in 2013), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) lists N₂O as having a GWP of 273. While this value represents the latest scientific findings, all emission reductions generated under the regulations of the second commitment period (2013–20) of the Kyoto Protocol (CMP Decision 4/CMP.7 paragraph 5) are calculated using a GWP for N₂O of 298. Meanwhile, under the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS) and regulations on its third commitment period, the previously employed value of 310 remains valid and is still being applied. In any event, it can be concluded that the GWP of N₂O is significantly higher than that of CO₂, meaning that nitrous oxide is a very potent GHG.

What is the abatement efficiency of secondary and tertiary catalysts?

The abatement efficiency of catalysts can reach up to 99%. Practical experience, however, has shown that the abatement efficiency of secondary catalysts often only ranges between 70% and 90%. Tertiary catalysts operating under perfect conditions reach up to 99% abatement efficiency. It must be stressed that the efficiency levels that are ultimately achieved for both kinds of catalysts depend on the specific situation and condition of the nitric acid plant. It should be noted that the secondary catalyst material is gradually consumed during operation, thus leading to decreasing abatement efficiency over time. As a result, the catalyst material needs to be replaced (in parts or completely) at some point. Replacement cycles range from 3 to 10 or more years, depending on the employed technology and plant conditions.

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