As part of its commitment to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2050, Saint-Gobain has engaged in a major transformation process, which includes reduction of the carbon footprint of flat glass production. One solution will be to substitute natural gas with direct electrical heating and hydrogen combustion.
In March 2023 the flat glass production plant in Herzogenrath, Germany, successfully conducted five-day trials by injecting 30 percent hydrogen in the energy mix of its float furnace. Supported by Air Products, this large-scale trial replaced thirty percent of the total energy consumed by the furnace with pure hydrogen/air combustion. Air Products supplied the necessary hydrogen and provided the corresponding gas supply from the trailer to the plant.
“The renewal of the furnace is planned for the end of 2027. This deadline matches perfectly the decarbonization ambition from Saint-Gobain but also from Germany and the European Union,” said Ariane Weissler, Senior Project Leader Decarbonization of Herzogenrath site (COSIMA Project) – Saint-Gobain.
The COSIMA Project takes a global view and aims at decarbonizing the whole site of Herzogenrath by 2030, including the Sekurit plant with the Research and Development centre. All three entities work hand in hand to strengthen the synergies between the production of flat glass and the transformation of the glass products into performing glazings for the automotive industry.