Saint-Gobain, the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, and AGC Group, worldwide flat glass manufacturer leading in sustainability, announce that they are collaborating to deploy a large-scale hybrid highly electrified furnace for flat glass production, designed to significantly reduce direct CO2 emissions.
The new furnace will be installed at Saint-Gobain’s flat glass plant in Avilés, Spain, replacing the existing furnace. Construction is expected to start in January 2027, with production resuming in the second half of 2027.
The FurHy project will be carried out in a technological partnership between Saint-Gobain and AGC Glass Europe, following the successful collaboration since 2023 on the VOLTA project, a smaller pilot electrified furnace operated in the Czech Republic. That pilot has proven the feasibility of electrification technologies to decarbonize flat glass production.
A major step forward in electrification of flat glass manufacturing
The hybrid furnace is expected to reach 75% of electrification of the melting process, representing a significant technological advancement for the flat glass industry. It will be powered by low-carbon electricity, secured through renewable energy supply agreements contracted in Spain by Saint-Gobain. This type of furnace is the largest electric furnace ever built for flat glass, making it a world first.
Once operational, the project is expected to:
- Avoid approximately 80 kt CO₂eq emissions per year, corresponding to around 50% emissions reduction compared to a conventional gas furnace,
- Save approximately 265 GWh of natural gas per year, the equivalent of a 80% reduction in comparison with a standard gas furnace,
- Enable the production of lower-carbon flat glass reaching the best existing international standards,
- Support the growing need for more sustainable solutions for the residential, non-residential and infrastructure markets in the region.
Nicolas Miègeville, Chief Technology Officer, Saint-Gobain:
“Our technological partnership with AGC now reaches a new milestone with the deployment of the world's first large-scale hybrid electric furnace for flat glass production. This breakthrough demonstrates our ability to transform pioneering technologies into industrial reality positioning Saint-Gobain as the go-to partner for customers committed to lower-carbon solutions. Following the successful adoption of our very low-carbon glass ORAÉ®, this project marks a major step in the decarbonization of flat glass manufacturing, supporting Saint-Gobain’s commitment to reach net zero carbon emission by 2050. The European Innovation Fund has been instrumental in making this project a reality.”
Davide Cappellino, President Architectural Glass Europe & Americas of AGC:
“To contribute to a sustainable world, AGC is committed to developing products that promote sustainable development, and to reducing the environmental impact of its production processes. Following our continued progress in decarbonization, AGC launched its first low-carbon glass product range at the end of 2022. The development of a hybrid design melter on AGC’s mid-size patterned glass production line in Barevka, Czech Republic was another important milestone in our Net Zero Trajectory to become carbon neutral as a company by 2050. This new step to deploy a large-scale hybrid furnace for flat glass production, that will be done jointly with Saint-Gobain at their flat glass plant in Avilés, Spain, represents a significant leap in electrification of flat glass melting.”
The project is funded by the European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS) Innovation Fund.
