Advancing Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Glass Industry: Perspective from the DOE Industrial Technologies Program

Elliott Levine, U.S. Department of Energy
Keith Jamison, Energetics, Incorporated
David Rue, Gas Technology Institute
Warren Wolf, Warren W. Wolf Jr. Services

Keywords

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program (DOE/ITP) has conducted a R&D program focusing on glass manufacturing processes for the past decade, and has great interest in seeing the glass industry develop and deploy innovative energy-saving technologies. This paper will explore some of the commonalities in the development of these technologies for use in multiple glass industry sectors, as well as unique aspects of the specific requirements for individual industry sectors. The paper will incorporate findings from a recently published energy bandwidth report, which profiled average, state-of-the-art, and minimum energy requirements for melting and refining glass in the top glass sectors.
The paper will also examine the challenges and lessons learned in promoting collaborations and commercializing technologies in this conservative industry, describe several recent technological innovations and ongoing research activities, and highlight opportunities for further investigation. Finally, the paper will briefly profile some experiences in improving glass facility energy systems via ITP’s Best Practices program activities.