The installation marks a significant step in Covestro’s journey toward climate neutrality by 2035.
In a major stride toward industrial decarbonization, thyssenkrupp Uhde has successfully delivered and commissioned its advanced EnviNOx® technology at Covestro’s Baytown site in Texas, USA. The cutting-edge emissions control system is central to Covestro’s Nitric Acid Unit Climate Initiative (NAUCI), which is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 154,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents per year. This development highlights both companies’ ongoing commitment to sustainable operations and climate protection.
The EnviNOx® installation at Baytown represents another chapter in the long-standing collaboration between thyssenkrupp Uhde and Covestro. The technology has already been deployed at multiple Covestro facilities worldwide, including Shanghai, where it has demonstrated significant reductions in nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. By adopting this proven solution at its Baytown site, Covestro is reinforcing its strategy to minimize environmental impacts across its global production network.
Speaking on the milestone, Nadja Håkansson, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, emphasized the importance of cutting industrial emissions to combat climate change:
“Reducing greenhouse gases from industrial production is one of the fastest and most impactful ways to cut emissions. We are proud to support Covestro’s strong climate commitments once more with proven technology that delivers measurable results and minimizes emissions.”
Victor Ortega, Baytown site manager and senior vice president of Performance Materials and Operations North America at Covestro, added:
“It’s projects such as NAUCI that will help us achieve our ambitious emissions reduction targets in the long term, and I am confident that our continued efforts will drive even greater success as we work towards achieving climate neutrality by 2035.”
At the Baytown facility, the EnviNOx® solution has been integrated into the tail gas system of nitric acid production. The system combines a tertiary abatement approach—treating emissions in the tail gas—with a secondary abatement measure located below the ammonia oxidation gauzes. This dual approach maximizes efficiency and ensures high levels of nitrous oxide reduction.
Globally, EnviNOx® has a track record spanning over two decades, with more than 60 units installed. Collectively, these systems have prevented more than 260 million tons of CO2-equivalent emissions, making the technology one of the most effective climate action tools available to the chemical industry. Capable of reducing up to 99% of N2O and NOx emissions, the system is versatile enough to be applied not only in nitric acid plants but also in other high-emission processes such as caprolactam, adipic acid, and ammonia cracking production.
