Saint-Gobain Oberland plans to use biogas for glass container production in a pilot project at its Bad Wurzach, Germany facility.
It intends to construct a biogas plant on the factory site that will generate biogas for the glass melting process.
For technical production reasons, considerable volumes of fossil fuels (natural gas, heating oil) are required for the manufacture of glass containers.
Saint-Gobain Oberland will increase its use of renewable-based energies to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions so that its manufacturing processes remain sustainable.
The biogas generated on-site is intended to fuel its tank furnaces directly. The treatment and conversion stages are not necessary.
It has formed a project team composed of scientists involved in biogas research, together with operators of existing plants and plant engineers for the design and planning of the biogas plant.
It plans to construct a biogas plant to which the pre-treated substrate – out of waste material that is constantly being generated – only needs to be delivered.
A depression hall, where substrate deliveries as well as the storage of digestates for pick up is located, guarantees an odourless process for the environment.
Saint-Gobain Oberland CEO Stefan Jaenecke said: “Even though there do not exist subsidies for this kind of facility, we decided deliberately for the best technical and the most energy-efficient solution.
"We see in this a huge chance for us to lead the glass industry. Certainly the opinions of our neighbours of the plant are important for us.
“For this purpose we implemented an email-address for questions, suggestions and representations.”
