Linde announces second green hydrogen plant in Brazil, for the production of glass
Cebrace joins a growing number of glassmakers exploring the use of H2 to displace natural gas in furnaces
Industrial gases firm Linde has announced that its subsidiary White Martins will build, own and operate a 5MW pressurised alkaline electrolyser in the Brazilian city of Jacareí, São Paulo state, in order to supply the local glass industry.
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“Investing in green hydrogen to supply the industrial heart of São Paulo reaffirms our commitment to the energy transition in Brazil,” said Gilney Bastos, president for South and Latin America at Linde.
“We look forward to helping Cebrace achieve its decarbonisation goals while also supporting merchant customers’ transition to lower carbon solutions.”
Cebrace, which mainly produces float glass used in buildings, was founded as a joint venture between France’s Saint-Gobain Glass and Japan’s Nippon Sheet Glass, which also owns British glassmaker Pilkington.
The UK firm had in 2021 announced the world’s first successful production of thick architectural glass with 100% hydrogen fired in the furnace rather than natural gas, with no effect on product quality.
Other European glassmakers are also already producing glass from hydrogen-fired furnaces. This week, Schott in Germany completed its first production of thin optical glass with 100% hydrogen firing, although analysis of the impact on product quality is still under way.
Drinks giant Bacardi had partnered with Slovenian glassmaker Hrastnik1860 to produce a run of 150,000 St Germain liqueur bottles with 60% hydrogen co-firing with natural gasearlier this year.
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