H2Glass: Partnership for the glass industry decarbonization

H2Glass: Partnership for the glass industry decarbonization in Europe

The efforts of electro-intensive industries to replace the use of fossil fuels with green hydrogen still face many challenges within the process: generating the hydrogen, preparing the infrastructure, modifying and adjusting the process, the economic viability and safe handling in industrial facilities.

H2Glass objective us to create a new technology stack that glass and aluminium manufacturers can use to achieve complete hydrogen combustion. Specifically, the project will address the challenges related to emissions of nitrogen oxides and high flame propagation speed, process efficiency and supply of hydrogen for on-site demonstrations. In addition, digital twin techniques will be used to assess risk-based predictive maintenance.

Main activities

Technology stack enabling 100% H2 combustion in the glass sector.

IT architecture & automation for efficient industrial processes.

Validation in six real-world glass production facilities.

Safe, economic, and sustainable solutions, also for other energy-intensive industries.

During the next 4 years full-scale tests will be carried out in European furnaces. Subsequently, the aim is to transfer the results of this research to all furnaces and achieve the total decarbonization of the glass industry in the next 30 years.

Additionally, to ensure safety throughout the project and to study the specific risks associated with the use of hydrogen (H2) in the glass and aluminum industry, the work includes several key objectives:

Identify relevant models and monitoring sensors to detect integrity loss in H2 systems.
Develop and validate a dynamic risk model that will serve as the basis for a risk-based inspection and maintenance framework, specifically tailored for H2 systems in these industries.
Conduct thermo- and fluid-dynamic analysis of potential H2 leaks outside the melting furnaces, their mixing with air, and the risk of ignition.

The project also encompasses the creation, development, and monitoring of a safety plan, along with the risk assessment for H2 applications in these industries.

23.3 M€

funding from Horizon Europe

23

partners

5

Industrial demonstrators

8

Countries involved

Partners

Sener participates in H2Glass sharing the experience and technological knowledge of its expert team in the field of hydrogen to define and design a suitable and safe solution that integrates renewable hydrogen in the glass and aluminum production processes. In addition, we support the technology integration process in the different sites that are part of the project.

ASTON University, CIB UNIGAS, European Aluminium, Fraunhofer, Hydro Havrand, National Institute of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Owens Corning, PTML Pilkington, Sener, SINTEF Manufacturing, Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro, STAM, Stara Glass, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, Steklarna Hrastnik, Technical University of Catalonia,University of Nottingham, Vetrobalsamo, we, Zignago Vetro.

Environmental solutions

Decarbonization and Sustainable industry

H2Glass: Partnership for the glass industry decarbonization in Europe