VOLTA Project: powering hybrid furnace transition in Europe’s flat glass industry

The VOLTA project promises to significantly reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy independence, and set new standards for sustainable flat glass manufacturing. As one of Europe’s key industries, flat glass production serves construction, furniture, transportation, technology, and other products and services that are crucial for Europe’s economy. Currently, this industry is hard to abate; however, by using advanced hybrid furnace technology, the project aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining high production standards.

A breakthrough in low-carbon manufacturing

At the heart of the project lies a cutting-edge hybrid furnace designed to slash CO₂ emissions by over 2 million tonnes annually when scaled up and deployed in Europe – comparable to nearly half of Iceland’s total CO₂ emissions in 2022 (Statistics Iceland, 2022) – while reducing Europe’s natural gas consumption by more than 10 terawatt-hours (TWh). This groundbreaking technology contributes to global decarbonisation efforts and strengthens Europe’s energy sovereignty by decreasing reliance on imported fuels.

The project has already achieved significant milestones on its journey to transforming the flat glass industry.  At the designated project plant in Barevka, Czech Republic, a major transformation has been achieved. Following studies, procurement processes and construction works, the production line is now functional, and the project entered into operation at the beginning of February 2025. The teams are now actively working on-site, operating the new furnace.

Paving the way for Europe’s clean industrial future

However, the road to success is never easy. Securing permits and upgrading the plant’s electrical infrastructure has proved to be a daunting task – one that is likely to intensify as this hybrid furnace technology scales up across larger sites throughout Europe. 

‘Revamping such a major plant to accommodate this type of technology is demanding on multiple fronts: budget, planning, and infrastructure’, explained Marc Foguenne, Vice-President Sustainability of AGC Glass Europe. ‘But bringing together the expertise of both AGC and Saint-Gobain has allowed us to create a more effective solution than we could have achieved individually.’

With €12.2 million in financial support from the Innovation Fund, VOLTA successfully overcame many hurdles. The grant alleviates the financial burden on AGC and Saint-Gobain while supporting feasibility studies, risk management and impact evaluation. The structured project management endorsed by the Innovation Fund has further strengthened the initiative, ensuring a robust framework for success.

The pilot project in Barevka is set to prevent the release of 192 500 tonnes of CO₂ over the next decade, equivalent to the annual emissions of over 35 000 European citizens. As the process moves closer to full-scale implementation, the VOLTA project not only contributes to Europe’s decarbonisation and clean energy transition, but also paves the way for a more sustainable future in one of the continent’s most emission-intensive industries.

About the Innovation Fund  

The Innovation Fund, financed by EU Emissions Trading System revenues, is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The Fund focuses on highly innovative clean technologies and big flagship projects with European added value that can bring significant greenhouse gas emission reductions.  

Article published on 20 February 2025