14 December 2023 | The special glass producer Schott announces that important milestones for the gradual reduction of emissions have been achieved.
The special glass producer Schott has achieved important milestones for the reduction of emissions.
“We were able to quickly implement the first important milestones, such as the switch to 100% green electricity. Now we have to solve complex technical challenges at our furnaces,“
says Dr. Jens Schulte, member of the Schott Board of Management and responsible for the “Zero Carbon“ strategy programme.
“In order to further reduce emissions and achieve our climate targets, we have to break new technological ground.Our focus is on developing innovative technologies to melt glass more sustainably.“
The technology group Schott has set itself the goal of transforming its energy-intensive special glass production. Since 2019, absolute emissions have been reduced by 60% by switching to green electricity and increasing energy efficiency. Since 2021, Schott has switched to 100% green electricity with the help of Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). To date, the Group has concluded seven direct contracts with energy producers (PPAs) – with these, Schott is supporting the energy transition in Germany.
Pioneering projects to transform special glass production
Schott is currently conducting pioneering research into how glass can be melted using sustainable energy sources instead of natural gas. The glass industry is one of the most energy–intensive industries in the world. To melt the glass raw materials, temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees Celsius are reached in huge melting tanks. To date, the main source of energy has been natural gas – associated with high emissions of climate–damaging greenhouse gases.
The Group is focussing on two options: electrifying the furnaces with green electricity or using green hydrogen. Laboratory tests with 100 per cent hydrogen were successfully carried out in spring 2023. Further tests on furnaces on an industrial scale are to follow next year.
In addition to the first promising research results on smelting using hydrogen instead of natural gas, the company started the construction of the first climate–friendly electric smelting furnace.
Michael Hahn, Head of Melting Research, reports: “In the pilot plant, we were able to increase the proportion of electrical energy to up to 60% for difficult–to–melt aluminosilicate glass, for example, while maintaining at least the same glass quality. We have thus shown that a ‘super–hybrid furnace‘ with a higher proportion of electrical heating than fossil fuels is possible.“
Laboratory tests with hydrogen were successful at 100%. Further tests are to follow – but the infrastructure and the lack of availability of the energy source remain a major challenge. Photo: Nina Heinl
Reduction targets for the value chain
In addition to the plan for climate–neutral production by 2030 in Scope 1 and Scope 2, ambitious reduction targets have now been set for the entire value chain (Scope 3) for the first time – the globally recognised Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) recently confirmed the emissions reduction target submitted by Schott for all three scopes.
Scope 3 emissions amounted to around 1.3 million tonnes of CO2e in 2019. The absolute emissions in Scope 3.3 (energy and fuel–related activities) and Scope 3.15 (investments) are to be reduced by 27.5 per cent by 2030. The Group is also working closely with its suppliers – by 2027, 74.23 per cent of the suppliers with the highest emissions are ex to set themselves science–based climate targets.
Motivating public recognition
The fact that Schott has already received initial public recognition for its measures is encouraging for the necessary next steps. After winning the dena “Energy Efficiency Award“ in autumn 2022, Schott was awarded the prestigious German Sustainability Award twice in November 2023. The technology group received the award for the glass and ceramics industry sector and the jury’s special prize for the climate transformation field.
“This renewed success confirms our strategy and motivates us to take the next steps with commitment,“ says Dr Jens Schulte. “Thanks to the IPO of our pharmaceutical subsidiary, we are in a good financial position for further investments. Nevertheless, like many other manufacturing companies in Germany, we are dependent on certain framework conditions. These include the availability of green energy at competitive prices and a corresponding nationwide infrastructure.”
Further information on environmental protection at www.schott.com/about-us/sustainability
