Briquetting of recycled glass fines for energy and CO2 reduction in the glass industry

The glass industry is synonymous with inefficient energy consumption, resulting in high energy costs and

carbon emissions. The global glass manufacturing sector uses 140 - 220 TWh of energy and emits 50-60 MT of

CO2 p/a, which is set to escalate YoY, with a forecast market growth rate p/a of 7.2%. Glass melting processes

account for 75% of the industry's energy consumption, with the average melting furnace operating at only 55%

efficiency. In the UK alone the energy costs for the glass industry equate to circa £72.5m p/a, and inefficient,

sub-optimal melting processes result in unnecessary CO2 emissions of 150,000T. A key contributor to the

problem is the availability of the supply of cullet - recycled glass, which, when re-introduced into the melting

process, can significantly reduce the melting energy of glass making raw materials. This project will test the

feasibility of a new briquetting technology that will secure the long term supply of cullet by converting waste

cullet fines (20% of the total supply) into valuable raw material that can be introduced into the glass melting

process, and subsequently reduce energy consumption, costs and CO2 emissions by 4-8%.