Ardagh Glass GmbH, a part of Ardagh Glass Packaging (AGP) – Europe, has initiated the construction of a revolutionary hybrid furnace at its glass production facility in Obernkirchen, Germany.
The innovative technology of the ‘NextGen’ furnace aims to transition the company to renewable electricity and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60% in the furnace.
This significant step aligns with Ardagh’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy, targeting emissions reduction, and marks a crucial milestone in their decarbonisation journey.
Hybrid furnace promotes renewable electricity usage
The pioneering hybrid electric furnace being constructed by Ardagh Glass GmbH will be the first of its kind, predominantly running on renewable electricity with a small amount of gas.
This large-scale furnace will utilise high levels of recycled glass cullet and have the capacity to produce approximately 350 tonnes of glass bottles per day, with a focus on amber glass but the capability to manufacture other colours as well.
Operational plans for the furnace include commencing commercial glass container production later this year.
Decarbonising the glass production process
The current energy mix for container glass production consists of approximately 90% gas and 10% electricity.
By inverting this ratio to 80% renewable electricity and 20% gas, the innovative technology implemented in the NextGen Furnace will significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with glass packaging.
Grant support from Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Protection
The project has received grant support from the Bundesministerium fur Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Protection) and KEI (Klimaschutz in Energieintensiven Industrien – Climate Protection in Energy-Intensive Industries).
These grants are aimed at assisting energy-intensive industries in Germany to adopt sustainable practices.
