A high-tech plasma torch was lit up on Friday 20th March as Minister of Conservation, Hon Tama Potaka, officially opened the $10 million National Refrigerant Destruction Facility – signalling a new era in addressing the environmental impact of New Zealand’s most potent greenhouse gases.
The new steam plasma arc plant is the first of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, and a key weapon in tackling the threat from synthetic refrigerants – including CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs – the extremely powerful climate change agents, with global warming factors of up to 15,000 times CO2.
Speaking at the opening in Kawerau, Chair of the Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants, Richard Lauder, says: “This plant represents the beginning of a new chapter in advanced environmental stewardship and action on dealing with end-of-life refrigerants in Aotearoa New Zealand”.
New Zealand has obligations under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which is a 2016 international treaty designed to phase down the production and consumption of the hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which replaced ozone-depleting CFCs and HCFCs.
Mr Lauder says synthetic refrigerants are the ‘invisible backbone’ of modern New Zealand and our export success around the world. They touch every corner of New Zealand, and reliance on them is growing exponentially – from home and commercial air-conditioning, healthcare, supermarkets and foodservice to logistics and cold chains.
He says that while recycling and reclaiming gases has a place, this extends the life of these gases – extending the legacy of older refrigerants.
“Ultimately, to fully address the climate impact, these gases must be safely and permanently destroyed when they reach end-of-life. And now, that solution exists here in New Zealand.”
He says these harmful refrigerants no longer need to be stockpiled, reused indefinitely, or shipped offshore: “They can be permanently destroyed onshore, using world-leading technology, powered by home-grown renewable energy.”
He says this world-class facility is a demonstration of what is possible when industry, government, and community work together with shared purpose.
The new facility funded by the Trust, through Chemical Destruction Services (CDS) uses a Steam Plasma Arc system from Canadian technology leader, PyroGenesis, which destroys synthetic refrigerant gases with a near 100 percent (99.99999%) efficiency – resulting in safe, stable compounds that can be released into the environment.
CDS Managing Director, Clifton Madgwick, says the plant – as a first for New Zealand – is a point of local pride for Kawerau, with the community having a strong industrial heritage and innovative spirit.
Mr Madgwick says the plant has the capacity to sustainably destroy up to 100,000kg of gases per annum, which could have a combined Global Warming Potential (GWP) of about 220 million kilograms (Co2-e).
“That potential harm ends right here! In this National Refrigerant Destruction Facility, where we’re using our plasma torch to do good deeds for planet Earth.”