NoNOx Filter: collaboration with VolkerWessels to reduce nitrogen emissions

At our airport, the test period has started with the NoNOx filter, an innovation of VolkerWessels. For a period of six months, the airport is testing the reduction of nitrogen emissions during ground handling. Minister Harbers already kicked off the test period on 13 March by unveiling the NoNOx filter during his visit to the airport.

NoNOx filter

A NOx filter a filter used to reduce harmful nitrogen (NOx) emissions from diesel engines. VolkerWessels has developed a NOx filter that can reduce up to 99% of nitrogen emissions from both stationary and mobile equipment: the NoNOx filter.

Groningen Airport Eelde, in cooperation with VolkerWessels, had a NoNOx filter installed on one of the Ground Power Units (GPU) used during ground handling at the airport. A GPU is used to provide electrical power to aircraft on the ground. Currently, mainly diesel GPUs are deployed at airports.

Sustainability

Ron Frazer of VolkerWessels:

“The NoNOx filter guides the exhaust gases from the GPU through a filter medium that captures nitrogen oxides and converts them into harmless gases such as water vapour.” The filter starts at GPU start-up and then the exhaust gases cause the NoNOx to heat up, after which it automatically starts reducing emissions.

In 2020, Groningen Airport Eelde launched the NXT Airport initiative with the ambition to make the airport more sustainable.

Jonas van Dorp, Manager Commerce & Communication at the airport:

“We are very happy with this cooperation, as it perfectly matches our sustainable ambitions. By using the NoNOx filter, the current material can be preserved without having to be replaced immediately. We are testing the filter for six months, including the busy months of July and August, so that we can properly measure the effects, including at peak load.”