The impact of low-carbon, high-performance glass
Glass is ubiquitous in the modern world. Whether tapping at a mobile phone screen, checking our reflection or looking through a building’s façade, this ancient material is deeply woven into the fabric of daily life.
Glass also plays a vital role in more unexpected applications, such as fibre optic cables that transmit data at nearly the speed of light. It is essential in renewable energy technologies, being used in photovoltaic panels, solar thermal collectors, and the composite material of wind turbine blades.
However, glass’s greatest untapped potential may lie in the construction industry. Collectively, buildings account for 40 per cent of the energy consumed in the European Union and more than a third of its carbon dioxide emissions1. Globally, buildings are among the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing sectors such as transport, agriculture and industrial processes2. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings could therefore have an enormous impact on reducing total energy consumption.
Around 40%
of energy consumed in the EU is used in buildings
Over 1/3
of the EU’s energy-related GHG emissions come from buildings
+/- 80%
of energy used in EU homes is for heating, cooling and hot water
The latest generation of glass products can substantially reduce energy consumption for heating, cooling and lighting in buildings.3
“Introducing high-performance glass is one of the most effective and cost-beneficial ways to reduce construction emissions,” says Davide Cappellino, president of Architectural Glass Europe & Americas at AGC, a global glass manufacturing company headquartered in Tokyo.
High-performance glass offers superior thermal insulation, solar control and sound insulation compared to regular glass, contributing to building energy efficiency and comfort.
Cappellino notes that only a quarter of the estimated 130mn buildings in the European Union and United Kingdom are currently equipped with high-performance glass.
Cappellino notes that only a quarter of the estimated 130mn buildings in the European Union and United Kingdom are currently equipped with high-performance glass.
“If all low-performance glass in the EU was replaced, we would be able to reduce emissions by nearly 100mn tonnes every year – equivalent to the entire annual emissions of a country such as Belgium or the Netherlands,” he adds.4
Reducing emissions in glass production
Traditional glass production is an energy-intensive process involving the burning of fossil fuels to heat large furnaces. Producing substantial amounts of high-performance glass would generate unavoidable carbon emissions unless these production processes are reformed.
Industry leaders are working on ways to reduce the sector’s emissions5. In Europe, for example, AGC has reduced its direct emissions by 30 per cent by improving furnace efficiency, switching from heavy oil to natural gas, and increasing recycling in the last three decades. By 2030, AGC’s European offices also aim to cut emissions by another 30 per cent compared to 2019, aligning with the company target. Cappellino explains that this effort is accelerating through a partnership between AGC and French corporation Saint-Gobain, aimed at decarbonising flat glass manufacturing. Flat glass, produced in uniform sheets, is widely used in the construction and automotive industries.
Traditional glass production is an energy-intensive process involving the burning of fossil fuels to heat large furnaces. Producing…high-performance glass would generate unavoidable carbon emissions unless these production processes are reformed.
“We are bringing together the best competencies of the industry to rethink the way glass is produced,” says Cappellino. He reveals that this collaboration has led to the development of a pilot flat glass production line featuring the world’s first commercial-size hybrid furnace, which will begin production in early 2025. This furnace combines electric melting with oxy-gas combustion and is expected to reduce emissions by 75 per cent compared to a standard furnace.
The refurbished line at AGC’s plant in the Czech Republic will use 50 per cent renewable energy, with the remainder powered by a combination of oxygen and natural gas, resulting in what is likely the most sustainable flat-glass production process to date. If this manufacturing process is adopted industry-wide, it could lead to substantial emission reductions.
Another key aspect of reducing emissions is enhancing the circularity of glass. Each tonne of cullet – crushed or broken glass – recycled and reused as raw material can prevent 0.7 tonnes of carbon emissions. While certain types of glass, such as those used in bottles and jars, have high recycling rates, others, such as construction glass, do not.6
To address this, AGC has expanded its recycling efforts to include glass that has previously left the factory floor and been used by customers, including in construction and solar panels. Currently, 30 per cent of AGC Glass Europe’s raw materials come from recycled glass, with a goal to increase this to 50 per cent by 2030.
New-generation glass for lower-emission buildings
The global glass industry is developing increasingly versatile products to achieve lower-emission buildings.
Fineo is a new generation of insulating glass with a 0.1mm vacuum that provides thermal insulation comparable to triple glazing, yet is much thinner and lighter. These properties help to reduce emissions during both production and after installation7. According to Cappellino, Fineo will be vital for renovating the windows and façades of Europe’s vast stock of historical buildings, many of which are poorly insulated but cannot easily accommodate thicker insulated glass.
The global glass industry is developing increasingly versatile products to achieve lower-emission buildings.
Another increasingly popular solution is Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) glass, which generates energy through integrated photovoltaic cells, helping create passive or zero-energy buildings. With over a decade of experience in BIPV, AGC offers a range of glass and glazing products that can be installed on windows, roofs, louvres, canopies and carports. These products come with varying levels of transparency and are all equipped with photovoltaic cells, enabling buildings to generate their own energy.
“The high-performance glass segment is addressing a big need in society, and we’re privileged to be part of it,” says Cappellino. “Europe may be a pilot region and leader in glass production, but we certainly see this as a global challenge and opportunity for glass.”
1. https://commission.europa.eu/news/focus-energy-efficiency-buildings-2020-02-17_en
2. https://www.agc-glass.eu/en/sustainability/glass-sustainable-architecture/sustainable-buildings
3. https://www.agc-glass.eu/en/sustainability/glass-sustainable-architecture/sustainable-buildings
4. https://publications.tno.nl/publication/34634003/lMH9sW/TNO-2019-R10442.pdf
5. https://glassforeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/flat-glass-climate-neutral-europe.pdf
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02992-8
https://carboncredits.com/lionglass-10x-stronger-cuts-carbon-emissions-by-half/
https://agc-glass.eu/en/sustainability/decarbonisation/environmental-impact
6. https://gradeall.com/glass-recycling-efficiency-global-statistics-and-trends/#:~:text=Container%20glass%20achieves%20a%20higher,recycling%20rate%20of%20only%2011%25
7. https://www.fineoglass.eu/