Climbing up the E2A technology ladder

It has been a busy year for Yara’s emissions to air (E2A) team, which develops and sells solutions to reduce harmful emissions on land and at sea. In 2014, E2A conducted three major acquisitions in Norway, Germany and Austria to enlarge its portfolio of abatement technologies. The E2A business area operates within Yara’s Industrial segment*, which is headed by Yves Bonte.

A step-by-step approach to success

“Each of the 3 acquisitions was a very logical step on our technology ladder, firmly establishing Yara as a total solution provider for reducing harmful exhaust gas emissions,” says Yves Bonte. “Yara has been selling reagents for many years. Entering into the technology area was a natural progression.”

Yara started by offering reagents to abate harmful NOx emissions in the early nineties for stationary plants, then vehicles and later ships. The launch of the E2A innovation platform in 2011 marked the beginning of Yara’s move into abatement technology. First, Yara acquired non-catalytic abatement technology (SNCR) before moving onto more sophisticated catalytic solutions (SCR). When being active in the marine segment, Yara realized that in addition to NOx abatement solutions, the industry also needed SOx abatement solutions, as ships emit both these toxic gases. This is why Yara bought a majority stake in Green Tech Marine Technologies, now renamed Yara Marine Technologies.

“This step-by-step approach has paved the way for Yara to become a full-service emissions control solution provider for vehicles, industrial plants and ships,” says Yves Bonte. “Our value chain to the customer has been extended tremendously.”

The next step

Following the expansion into abatement technology, the next step for Yara’s E2A business is to further develop its after-market services, such as maintenance, training and know-how.

“We are now very rapidly wrapping up this component of services based on acquired knowledge but also based on new competencies developed by Yara. 2015 is clearly the year where we will have to make a major step forward in our service offerings,” says Yves Bonte.

The E2A team will focus on integrating and capturing the synergies following the string of recent acquisitions. In addition to pursuing geographical expansion possibilities, E2A will continue to monitor the market to determine new business opportunities.

“If we detect any weaknesses in our portfolio of offerings we will definitely either develop it ourselves or with the right partner, or make an acquisition,” says Yves Bonte. “These technologies evolve quite rapidly, so we need to stay on top of the innovation curve.”

The growth prospects for Yara’s E2A business are impressive.

“With the right focus, the right competence and the right people, this business will more than triple between now and 2020,” he says.

*Yara’s Industrial segment converts energy, natural minerals and nitrogen from the air into essential solutions for the environment and industrial applications. Backed by a century of experience in nitrogen based products, Yara Industrial offers products, technologies and services that make everyday life safer, healthier and easier.

This article concludes our series of articles focusing on our E2A business BUT there will be many more exciting stories about E2A, environmental and industrial solutions, so stay tuned!

You can read the previous E2A articles here:

E2A: Yara fights air pollution, E2A: Yara fights emissions at sea, Fighting emissions – Yara has big plans!, Cutting air pollution from ships, A billion dollar market.

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