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These technologies enable our customers to operate efficiently in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner.
−Removed: The Company’s nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction technologies include NOxOUT ® , HERT™ High Energy Reagent Technology™, and Advanced Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) systems, ASCR ® Advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction systems, and I-NOx ® Integrated NOx Reduction Systems, which utilize various combinations of these systems, along with the UDI™ Urea Direct Injection system for Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) reagent supply, and the ULTRA ® process for safe ammonia generation.
+Added: The Company’s nitrogen oxide (NOx) reduction technologies include NOxOUT ® and Advanced Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) systems and ASCR ® Advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction systems.
+Added: SCR reagent supply systems include the ULTRA ® and U2A processes for safe ammonia generation and UDI™ Urea Direct Injection systems, along with aqueous and anhydrous ammonia storage and delivery systems.
These technologies have established Fuel Tech as a leader in NOx reduction, with installations on over 2,000 units worldwide.
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These TIFI ® programs incorporate design, modeling, equipment, reagent, and service to provide complete customized on-site programs designed to improve plant operations and provide a return on investment in addition to helping meet emission regulatory requirements.
+Added: We have FUEL CHEM experience on more than 100 applications worldwide.
Water treatment technologies include DGI ® Dissolved Gas Infusion Systems which utilize a proprietary channel injector and a patented saturator to provide a competitive advantage over conventional water and wastewater treatment by infusing oxygen, carbon dioxide or other gases into water.
An innovative alternative to current technologies among other applications, DGI ® systems can deliver supersaturated oxygen solutions and other gas-water combinations to target process applications or environmental issues.
−Removed: This infusion process has a variety of applications in the water and wastewater segments, including irrigation, treatment of natural waters, aquaculture, supply of oxygen for biological remediation, wastewater odor management, pH adjustment, re-carbonization, and alkalinity control, etc.
+Added: This infusion process has a variety of applications in the water and wastewater treatment segments, including irrigation, treatment of natural waters, aquaculture, supply of oxygen for biological remediation, wastewater odor management, pH adjustment, re-carbonization, and alkalinity control, etc.
DGI ® technology benefits include improved treatment performance and reduced treatment time, and the potential for reduced energy consumption, along with lower installation and operating costs.
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The NAAQS ground-level ozone standards that were issued in 1997 were made more stringent in 2008 and again in 2015.
−Removed: The EPA kept the 2020 NAAQS ozone standard at 70 parts per billion, the same limit as 2015.
−Removed: The ozone NAAQs will be reviewed again in 2025, with industry analysts expecting no change in emissions requirements.
−Removed: In March 2023, EPA issued a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to address NOx emissions from upwind sources on downwind states.
−Removed: The issuance of the FIP was preceded by the EPA’s rejection of the proposed State Implementation Plans (SIPs) submitted by many of the upwind states pursuant to the CAA.
−Removed: The issuance of the FIP, which was made pursuant to the Good Neighbor provision of the CAA, was likely to require a significant number of upwind sources to provide additional NOx controls to help downwind states meet the 2020 ozone NAAQS requirements starting in 2024 for utility power units and starting in 2026 for industrial sources.
−Removed: This FIP is also referred to as the EPA Good Neighbor Rule.
−Removed: The US Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 to stay the Rule for a number of affected states after other states had been granted a stay by various Circuit Courts.
−Removed: EPA vacated the entire Good Neighbor Rule in November 2024 and publicly stated it would look to address concerns raised by the US Supreme Court and reissue the Good Neighbor Rule.
−Removed: Without the Good Neighbor Rule, downwind states are on record that they may challenge the upwind states in court as to not meeting the Good Neighbor obligations as defined in the CAA.
−Removed: The downwind states may not be able to meet their emission standards due to the contribution of NOx emissions from upwind states.
+Added: The EPA kept the 2025 NAAQS ozone standard at 70 parts per billion, the same limit which has been in place since 2015.
+Added: For ozone NAAQS compliance, upwind states are required by the Good Neighbor obligations as defined in the CAA to not contribute significantly to the ozone levels in downwind states.
+Added: If downwind states are not able to meet their emission standards due to the contribution of NOx emissions from upwind states, downwind states may challenge upwind states based on their ability to meet regulatory compliance standards.
Fuel Tech will monitor the potential impact on these upcoming NOx emission requirements.
−Removed: Clean Air Visibility Rule (CAVR):
−Removed: The CAVR, also known as the Regional Haze rule, is part of the Clean Air Act and was finalized in 2005.
−Removed: Under CAVR, certain States are required to submit implementation plans to the EPA to comply with the Regional Haze requirements, and updates are required every five years.
−Removed: A new CAVR was issued in January 2017 which extended the review period to every ten years.
−Removed: NOx emissions contribute to ground level ozone which can contribute to localized haze, and many State Implementation Plans (SIP) are addressing NOx reduction as part of CAVR compliance.
−Removed: Environmental organizations have filed lawsuits against EPA for failure to approve SIPs for the second round of CAVR compliance which is required prior to 2028.
−Removed: The overall obligation of CAVR is to return the U.S.
−Removed: scenic areas to “active” visibility by 2064.
New Unit Permits:
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SCR technology is very often BACT for NOx, and these permit requirements generate new market opportunities.
+Added: New unit permits are granted at the state level, and individual state emission requirements can be more stringent than any national standards.
Consent Decrees:
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Sources may also agree to specific air pollution requirements with states or environmental groups.
+Added: State and Local Mandates:
+Added: While the EPA sets broad national goals under the CAA, many states exercise their independent authority to impose more aggressive emissions caps, often removing historical exemptions for startup and shutdown periods or mandating Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT) on existing aging fleets.
+Added: In regions with persistent air quality challenges, state-specific rules such as California's South Coast AQMD requirements or the Northeast's 'Good Neighbor' SIP provisions effectively transition SCR from a high-tier option to a mandatory operational baseline.
+Added: Consequently, for our customer base operating in such regions these localized regulations often represent the most stringent and immediate compliance hurdle, dictating the technical specifications and timing of pollution control upgrades.
Regulations and Markets:
International
−Removed: We also sell air pollution control systems outside the U.S., specifically in Europe, South Africa, CentrSouth America, India (under a license agreement) and in the Pacific Rim.
+Added: We also sell air pollution control systems outside the U.S., specifically in Europe, South Africa, South America, India (under a license agreement) and in the Pacific Rim.
The demand for our technologies comes from specific governmental regulations in NOx and particulate matter emission limits which vary by country.
We expect that there will be further opportunities to implement our technologies globally in 2026.
−Removed: The European Union’s Best Available Reference Technology (BREF) emission guidelines continue to be implemented gradually starting from large utility boilers down to small industrial units.
+Added: The European Union’s Best Available Reference Technology (BREF) emission guidelines continue to be implemented gradually and updated regularly.
+Added: These guidelines impact all combustion sources from large utility boilers down to small industrial units.
The last major update of the BREF guidelines reduced NOx limit values by up to 25% which in some cases required an upgrade of the first-generation NOx abatement systems.
That has presented new opportunities for Fuel Tech, especially on biomass and waste incineration plants.
−Removed: New system opportunities are also being identified and followed in hydrogen production, chemical production and in petrochemical industries.
+Added: New NOx abatement opportunities are also being identified and followed in hydrogen production, chemical production and in petrochemical industries.
European engineering companies are supplying power generation and flue gas treatment systems to industrial and utility customers globally.
−Removed: Middle Eastern countries, especially Saudi Arabia have become a major focus for these companies due to the local initiatives for reducing pollution and improving tourism.
+Added: Middle Eastern countries have become a major focus for these companies due to the local initiatives for reducing pollution and improving tourism.
Fuel Tech’s NOx control technologies can be integrated into both new and existing combustion systems supplied into this market.
+Added: In Brazil, there are stricter NOx emission limits in and around large population centers compared to rural areas.
+Added: Multi-national industrial companies setting up operations in these areas typically specify air pollution abatement systems similar to those installed in Europe and the U.S.
+Added: New biomass fired power plants in Chile have also started specifying NOx control technologies.
+Added: We have well-established relationships with engineering companies in the region to be able to supply our proven technologies.
In South Africa, the state-owned utility Eskom and metallurgical companies are continuing with refurbishing aging ESPs and adding FGC technology to further improve ESP performance.
Fuel Tech is well placed to compete for this business with our local partner Lesedi.
−Removed: Brazil’s Sau Paulo state has announced stricter NOx emission requirements which will impact local cement, steel and glass production industries.
−Removed: Fuel Tech has established local partnerships to bring our SNCR, SCR and FGC technologies to this market.
The Indian government has prioritized sulfur oxide treatment over NOx abatement in the refurbishment of thermal power units.
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SCR Systems and Services:
−Removed: Our SCR systems control NOx emissions from industrial and utility sources including boilers, incinerators, kilns, reformers and many other types of heat recovery equipment firing coal, natural gas, oil, and a variety of process gases and waste fuels.
+Added: Our SCR systems control NOx emissions from industrial and utility sources including boilers, incinerators, kilns, reformers, turbines, engines and many other types of heat recovery equipment firing coal, natural gas, oil, and a variety of process gases and waste fuels.
The SCR systems typically include urea or ammonia storage and delivery subsystems, reagent injection systems in the form of an Ammonia Injection Grid (AIG), catalyst reactor vessel and SCR catalyst.
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SNCR Systems:
−Removed: Our NOxOUT ® and HERT™ SNCR processes use urea or ammonia reagent injected into a variety of combustion furnaces to reduce NOx by up to 25% - 50% for utilities and by potentially significantly greater amounts for industrial units.
−Removed: Capital costs ranging from $5 - $20/kW for utility boilers and with total annualized operating costs range from $1,000 - $2,000/ton of NOx removed.
+Added: Our NOxOUT ® SNCR processes use urea or ammonia reagent injected into a variety of combustion furnaces to reduce NOx by up to 25% - 50% for utilities and by potentially significantly greater amounts for industrial units.
+Added: Capital costs range from $5 - $20/kW for utility boilers, with total annualized operating costs ranging from $1,000 - $2,000/ton of NOx removed.
Advanced SNCR (ASNCR) systems are also available to improve performance and minimize reagent costs through in-furnace monitoring and an advanced control system.
−Removed: I-NOx ® Systems:
−Removed: Our I-NOx ® systems can include SNCR components combined with SCR technology.
−Removed: Together, these systems provide up to 90% NOx reduction at significantly lower capital and operating costs than conventional SCR systems while providing greater operational flexibility to plant operators.
−Removed: The capital costs for I-NOx ® systems can range from $30 - $150/kW depending on boiler size and configuration, which is significantly less than that of conventional SCRs, which can cost $300/kW or more, while operating costs are competitive with those experienced by conventional SCR systems.
ESP and FGC Processes and Services:
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We have five patent applications pending:
−Removed: including two in the U.S.
−Removed: and three in non-U.S.
+Added: including three in the U.S.
+Added: and two in non-U.S.
jurisdictions.
−Removed: These patents and applications cover some 41 inventions, 24 associated with our NOx reduction business, eight associated with the FUEL CHEM business, and nine associated with water treatment.
−Removed: Our granted patents have expiration dates ranging from November of 2028 to August of 2042.
+Added: These patents and applications cover some 37 inventions, 23 associated with our NOx reduction business, five associated with the FUEL CHEM business, and nine associated with water treatment.
+Added: Our granted patents have expiration dates ranging from December of 2028 to August of 2042.
Management believes that the protection provided by the numerous claims in the above referenced patents or patent applications is substantial and affords us a significant competitive advantage in our business.
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Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.