Page 51 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 3-2021

ages and was supported by project scenario is likely to suit all 17 of tial to use lower cost bio-fuels. The
partners representing glass manu- the largest glass manufacturing UK already has biofuel upgrade
facturers (Encirc, NSG Pilkington), sites - which jointly accounts for capacity to supply the entire glass
furnace designers (F.I.C, Tecoglas), the greater portion of UK glass sector - a viable solution that could
control systems supplier (Siemens), manufacturing output (as well as be strengthened in the event of
research groups (Sheffield Hallam associated CO2 emissions from subsequent CCUS application to
University, University of Leeds) and glass melting). Of the four pos- mitigate process emissions and
The Society for Glass Technology. sible fuel scenarios investigated provide the sector with negative
Further support was provided by (biofuels, hydrogen, large-scale emissions. Here, however, a lack
Element Energy, and the University electricity and flexible-hybrid), the of understanding was noted as to
of Sheffield. study found that each can offer how biofuels will perform within
Here the Phase 3 study aimed to technical feasibility, thus affording a glass furnace as compared to
determine technical and economic the glass furnace heating process natural gas and standard diesel -
feasibility for each of the above a possibility to fully decarbonize especially respecting their effects
four fuel scenarios, along with while meeting regulatory require- upon glass melting behaviour and
the potential to decarbonise the ments - provided that the fuel be on emissions, since no global cases
glass furnace heating process while supplied economically. of firing a glass furnace with bio-
meeting regulatory requirements.

A POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION
TIMEFRAME
The study indicates that, given
suitable R&D investment, biodiesel
could enable the glass industry to
eliminate up to 90 percent of the
CO2 emissions associated with
heating glass furnaces by 2030. Not
only. If combined with CCUS, this
could provide a route to negative
net-carbon emissions.
However, it’s likely the industry
would instead be after a hydrogen-
electric hybrid over the long-term
(when such fuel sources are avail-
able), possibly with a small amount
of bio-oils (either to optimise the
hydrogen flame or as a back-up
when electricity is in high demand),
such that fuels could be delivered
to sites without any need for a
road-based haulage network. This
also reduces the reliance upon the sources of Biofuels used in the UK
biofuel network - freeing it up for
other sectors.

CONCLUSIONS AND BIOFUELS oils have been recorded hitherto.
RECOMMENDATIONS Fuels directly derived from All this necessitates further R&D in
Due to uncertainties and dif- wastes or from 100 percent renew- these areas.
ferences between subsectors able bio-sources (blends with stand-
as well as predicted variations ard diesel being thus excluded) are HYDROGEN
respecting future availability and known as biofuels. These are pre- Citing our poor understanding
the affordability of various fuels sented as a worthy fuel-switching of how hydrogen will perform with-
across the UK (e.g. potentially possibility, given the similarities of in a glass furnace, the report articu-
localised hydrogen supply, limited certain biofuels to gas oil - a fuel the lates key concerns which include
local grid capacity for electricity industry prefers over natural gas heat transfer mechanism, airflow
supply), no single low-carbon fuel and considering the added poten- volumes through the furnace,

GMP&A 3/2022 49