Glass Futures Joins Hydrogen Innovation Initiative to Decarbonize Glass Industry
Glass Futures, a research and technology organization with a focus on decarbonizing the glass industry, has joined the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII) as its latest partner. The HII, supported by Innovate UK, is a collaboration between industry, government, and academia aimed at creating a competitive hydrogen technology and services sector in the UK.
As a key member of the Industrial Advisory Board, Glass Futures has been involved with HII since its inception. Their shared mission of utilizing UK technology to drive the global hydrogen economy and transform the country’s industry into a net-zero powerhouse aligns perfectly with Glass Futures’ focus on reducing carbon emissions in energy-intensive industries like glass and ceramics.
Glass Futures acts as a bridge between the global glass industry and academia to showcase technologies that will decarbonize the glass and foundation industries. Rob Ireson, Innovation and Partnerships Manager at Glass Futures, expressed excitement about the opportunity for collaboration with other partners in the HII consortium. By sharing knowledge, research, and innovation across industries, Glass Futures aims to contribute to the development of sustainable hydrogen technology supply chains.
The use of fossil fuels in ceramic kilns results in significant carbon emissions, with most emissions coming from the combustion of natural gas to heat kilns. Hydrogen has the potential to reduce UK emissions by up to 780 kt CO2 per year, particularly in energy-intensive industries like glass and ceramics. The glass and ceramic industries face similar challenges in transitioning from natural gas to low-carbon hydrogen fuels for furnaces and kilns. Collaborating with other sectors will help develop solutions to these challenges and support the decarbonisation of industries.
In conclusion, Glass Futures’ partnership with HII will enhance expertise within the initiative and contribute significantly to developing sustainable hydrogen technology supply chains for energy-intensive industries like glass and ceramics. With their combined efforts towards reducing carbon emissions through innovative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, both organizations are taking crucial steps towards building a net-zero powerhouse future for our planet.
