Key Takeaways:
- NitroVolt, a Danish green ammonia startup, raised €3.5 million in seed funding from investors including BackingMinds, EIFO, EQT Foundation, Satgana, and DivisionM.
- The funding will support NitroVolt’s first demonstration unit, designed to produce green ammonia directly on farms using air, water, and renewable energy.
- NitroVolt’s modular “Nitrolyzer” system aims to cut CO₂ emissions from ammonia production, which currently contribute 2% of global emissions.
- The solution is expected to alleviate farmers’ reliance on large-scale, centralized ammonia production and distribution.
NitroVolt’s Vision for Carbon-Free Ammonia Production
Danish startup NitroVolt announced today that it has raised €3.5 million in seed funding to advance its development of green ammonia production technology aimed directly at farms. The funding round saw participation from early-stage venture capital firm BackingMinds, Denmark’s sovereign wealth fund EIFO, climate-tech investors EQT Foundation, Satgana, and DivisionM, as well as the Breakthrough Energy Fellowship, which had previously granted funds and has now contributed as an equity investor.
The funds will be used to develop NitroVolt’s first on-site demonstration unit, a container-sized system called the “Nitrolyzer,” designed to produce green ammonia from air, water, and renewable electricity. Unlike traditional ammonia production, which relies on fossil fuels and emits 500 million metric tons of CO₂ annually—comparable to 2% of global CO₂ emissions—NitroVolt’s approach removes fossil fuels entirely, creating a carbon-free ammonia solution suitable for farm use.
Addressing the Environmental Impact of Conventional Ammonia Production
Ammonia plays an essential role in global agriculture, supporting roughly half of the world’s food production. However, traditional ammonia production methods are centralized and carbon-intensive, adding significant emissions through distribution and reliance on fossil fuels. By developing a modular, on-farm solution, NitroVolt aims to shorten this supply chain, reduce CO₂ emissions, and provide farmers with direct access to a key agricultural input. The company’s solution not only aims to mitigate climate impact but also offers farmers a more resilient, cost-effective ammonia source, reducing their dependency on international supply chains, which have been vulnerable to disruptions, as seen during the COVID pandemic and geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine.
“Our ambition is to make a measurable impact on the climate crisis,” said Suzanne Zamany Andersen, NitroVolt’s CEO and co-founder. “By providing small modular units, we can rapidly implement a green solution that enables environmental impact by cutting CO₂ emissions and supports food security through nitrogen fertilizer production where it’s most needed.”
Backing for a New Era in Sustainable Agriculture
With successful lab results, NitroVolt now moves to scale its technology with a demonstration unit on a farm, marking a crucial step towards broader adoption. Investors are optimistic about NitroVolt’s potential to transform ammonia production. “This technology is a potential game changer for farmers and our food security,” said Jasenko Hadzic, Principal at BackingMinds. “We’re proud to support NitroVolt and are pleased to see strong new investors join this round.”
EIFO’s investment manager for green investments, Lasse Truels Köhler, highlighted the importance of sustainable ammonia production: “In EIFO, we are excited to support NitroVolt on their journey to bring ammonia production into the green era where it is needed most—on farms all around the world.”
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