O-I Glass has secured federal funding to invest in a decarbonisation project at its Zanesville, USA facility.
The US Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) has awarded the world's largest container glass maker $700,000 (of the total project federal cost share of up to $56.6 million) to begin Phase 1 activities.
OCED awarded the funding for the Glass Furnace Decarbonization Technology Stack project to Owens-Brockway Glass Container (O-I Glass).
The project plans to rebuild one furnace at the O-I Glass facility in Zanesville, Ohio and aims to reduce carbon intensity by 20-40% compared to glass produced on a baseline furnace.
This rebuild would combine five modern technologies on the furnace, marking the first time that all five technologies have been implemented simultaneously.
These technologies, which include improved heat recovery and fuel systems, material pre-heating, and electric conversions, would reduce waste heat, energy demands, and both direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions.
The project could demonstrate the commercial feasibility and functionality of combining multiple decarbonising technologies that could be replicated across different glass colours and container types.
During Phase 1 of the project, O-I Glass will conduct preliminary engineering design along with documentation and reports necessary for OCED to complete the National Environmental Policy Act review.
Phase 1 is anticipated to last for between six to eight months and work is set to begin this month.
