Decline in sales in the glass industry
The German Federal Association of the Glass Industry looks at developments in the glass industry in 2023, showing a slight decline in sales of 3.1 per cent.
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The Bundesverband Glasindustrie e.V. (BV Glas) has published its CO2-Roadmap to climate neutrality presented. The Institute for Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy (IER) at the University of Stuttgart has now explained climate paths that should lead the glass industry to climate neutrality by 2045.
The IER has calculated a total of three scenarios for the glass industry. Whether hydrogen, biogas or electricity, this is the key to climate neutrality, replace natural gas, which currently accounts for 77 per cent of the final energy mix, in the long term. Conventional melting tanks would have to be replaced by all-electric or hybrid technologies. However, these are not yet available on the market, meaning that a great deal of research and development will be required in the coming years.
"The rapid expansion of the electricity and hydrogen grids is a key task if the decarbonisation of the glass industry is to succeed. The conversion of conventional furnaces to fully or partially electric operation alone would increase electricity demand by a factor of 5 to 37 PJ per year."
Matthias Leisin, IER
One question remains unanswered: While energy-related emissions can be reduced to zero by switching to alternative energy sources, there are has not yet found a solution for the process-related emissions that result directly from the raw materials. So far, only the carbon capture and storage process (CCS/CCU) is available here, in which CO2 is separated and stored or reused.
For the first time, the costs for a transformation of the Glass industry before: The industry would have to spend around EUR 4.5 billion to convert to climate-neutral furnaces. This is a sum that cannot be raised alone if companies want to remain globally competitive. The association therefore appealed to politicians to work hard to create the right framework conditions for the industry.
"We need sufficient green electricity, an expansion of the infrastructure and finally a competitive industrial electricity price! In addition, the subsidies for alternative technologies should also cover the additional costs of operation."
Dr Frank Heinricht, President BV Glass
The energy costs per tonne of glass alone would be reduced by the Use of climate-neutral technologies increase by an average of 150 per cent.
SourceBV Glass
BV Glas - More news
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