NZ opens plasma-powered refrigerant destruction facility

Image: The PyroGenesis steam plasma arc (SPARC) hazardous refrigerant destruction system, shown at the opening of New Zealand’s National Refrigerant Destruction Facility. Photo Credit: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media

The $10 million National Refrigerant Destruction Facility (NRDF), funded by Cool-Safe through Chemical Destruction Services (CDS), uses technology developed by Canadian company, PyroGenesis. The SPARC process was originally developed for use on military warships to reduce the need to safely store hazardous waste materials on board.

The NRDF at Kawerau was officially opened by NZ Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka. It will be powered by renewable energy and has been designed to destroy up to 100,000kg of gases per annum, representing the mitigation of about 220 million kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e).

The plasma torch operates at temperatures of up to 5,000°C to destroy synthetic refrigerant gases including CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs with a near 100% efficiency, converting them into safe and stable compounds that can be safely released into the environment.

Speaking at the official opening, Chair of the Trust for the Destruction of Synthetic Refrigerants, Richard Lauder, said refrigerants have become a “backbone” of the NZ economy.

However, this brings with it an emissions challenge. Up until now, refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP) had to be shipped offshore, stockpiled or reused indefinitely, which Lauder said only extends the lifespan of legacy refrigerants.

“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,” Lauder said.

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