Danish start-up NitroVolt has secured €750,000 ($815,000) in funding to develop its innovative ‘Nitrolyzer’ unit. This technology aims to produce zero-emissions ammonia using only air, water, and green energy, providing a more environmentally friendly alternative to current production methods.
Ammonia plays a crucial role in global agriculture, with half of the world’s food supply relying on it. However, the dominant method of producing ammonia, which involves burning fossil fuels and using highly polluting grey hydrogen, is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions. In fact, current production methods emit as much CO2 as the entire aviation industry.
NitroVolt’s Nitrolyzer unit offers a solution to this problem by enabling cheaper and local production of ammonia. The technology utilizes a ‘lithium-mediated ammonia synthesis reactor’ to produce green ammonia directly at the point of use, such as on farms. This approach removes fossil fuels from the production process, making the ammonia 100% renewable, carbon-free, and competitive with current black ammonia prices on the market.
The funding round was led by Swedish venture capital fund BackingMinds and follows a grant from Breakthrough Energy, the innovation fund of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, which NitroVolt received last year. The support from these investors highlights the growing demand for sustainable solutions in agriculture and the potential of NitroVolt’s technology to transform the industry.
One of the key advantages of NitroVolt’s technology is its ability to make ammonia production resilient to supply chain volatility. By producing ammonia locally and using renewable energy sources, the technology reduces dependence on imported ammonia and fossil fuels, making it an attractive option for farmers and agricultural producers.
NitroVolt’s Nitrolyzer unit represents a significant step towards greener and more sustainable agriculture. By providing a more environmentally friendly alternative to current ammonia production methods, the technology has the potential to reduce the agricultural sector’s carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable food supply chain.
