VOLTA: One year demonstrating hybrid melting at industrial scale

Developed through a cooperation between AGC and Saint-Gobain and since its start-up in early 2025, the pilot furnace has delivered stable and consistent production, providing strong technological validation of the robustness of the hybrid concept.

Operational performance fully met design expectations, confirming energy consumption, temperature control and glass quality at the level of float glass across a wide range of cullet ratios and pull rates. These results strengthen confidence in the scalability of the concept and support its suitability for future industrial-scale deployment.

What enables these results:

• Higher energy efficiency through hybrid melting
• 50% share of electricity, with certified renewable sourcing
• Increased cullet use: 88% in standard operation (vs. 40% previously)

What it delivers:

• 66% reduction in fossil fuel consumption
• 71% reduction in Scope 1+3 CO₂ emissions vs. reference (emissions related to gas and raw materials only, according to Innovation Fund accounting)

These achievements result from the constructive collaboration between Saint-Gobain Glass and AGC Glass Europe. After one successful year of operation, VOLTA stands as a validated technological platform supporting progress toward low‑carbon flat glass production.

The Volta R&D project is funded by the Innovation Fund of the European Union*.

(*) Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.