Dr. Sener Oktik

Abstract:

The 2023 estimate of global primary energy consumption is ~183 230 TWh (~108 billion barrel of oil equivalent)  and the share of  fossil fuels, renewable are   83%, 14% and  3% respectively [1]. The distribution of global primary energy consumption by sectors in 2023 can be given as an average of industry 33% buildings 33% transportation 30% agriculture 3% and others 1% [2]. After a 6% decrease d during the COVID-19 the annual carbon dioxide emission exhibited 1-2% increase reaching to  a  37.5 Giga tons in 2023. . The top three sectors in CO₂ emissions are reported to be electricity and heat (16Gt), transport (8 Gt) and manufacturing and construction (6 Gt) [3]. The simulations for 2050 of primary energy demand diverge significantly from ~53% increase from today’s value (high scenario) to only around 10% decrease (low scenario). CO₂ emissions in 2050 follows a similar diverged pattern with values from over 45Gt to the net zero [4]. It is reported that  3% of global greenhouse gas emissions associated with activities related to the value chain of glass industries.  It is estimated one tonne of glass recycling avoids approximately 580kg/ CO₂  through the supply chain[5]. Reports on global glass productions in 2023 suggest that glass production capacity was 226 million metric  tons [6]. Despite the recovery after   economic slowdown related to COVID, the growths have been moderate with the highest increase in flat glass which   was less than %0.5 from 2022 to 2023 [3,7]. The reports estimate the YoY global glass market growth of 15 billion $ between 2022 (220 billion $) and 2023 (235 billion $).  Drivers of the relatively high growth of the global market for flat glass were innovations for product differentiations in different industries particularly in solar industries [8,9]. The glass sector continues to develop new ways to continue the improvements in sustainability, with research and development identifying clear options for manufacturers to secure their long-term futures and achieve net-zero emissions targets. Most of the glass manufacturing sector still relies predominantly on the combustion of natural gas, with up to 75% of energy consumption in glass production coming from the operation of furnaces. Biofuel offers a supplementary fuel option but is it not the long-term solution, as the long-term solution is likely to be mixed of energy such as renewable electricity, hydrogen and biofuel, depending on availability, sustainability and cost of the energy.  Another key tool already employed and that is being continually developed by glass manufacturers to increase their sustainability is waste heat recovery technology. Pre-heating   raw materials and recycled glass generally result in a 10-15% energy saving throughout the overall glass production process [8]. In this context, it is understandable that manufactures are seeking clarity on the availability and cost of electricity and hydrogen and other energy sources before making large investments. Along the changes. However, the appetite is clearly shared in the glass manufacturing industry to secure the long-term future for the production of one of the oldest materials in the world in new and innovative ways. [4,8]. Continuous improvement of the optical, mechanical, electrical and chemical properties of glass surfaces together with deposition technologies and functions supplied by passive and active layers on glass are leading an expected growth at a CAGR of 5.0% towards 2028 reaching close to 25 Billion$ [9,10]. Coated glass with soft or hard-coated low-e and solar low-e layers are the most popular products. Active or passive coating systems (smart coatings) in which the light and heat transmission/emission properties are modulated by applied voltage, light or heat intensity  have been maturing for large volume commercial productions[11,12, 13]. The global market for smart coatings in construction and transportation sectors is predicted to be around ~9 billion $ in 2023 and expected to grow by CAGR of between 18and 20% to over 30 billion $ in by 2030[14,15]. This brief review is aimed to update the status of “What does the glass sector need to do “ in flat glass production and multifunctional coatings on glass towards net zero emission targets.