Ardagh Glass Packaging (AGP)-Europe has begun producing green hydrogen for glass melting via a 5MW electrolyser at its facility in Limmared, Sweden.

Through proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, AGP Europe supplies hydrogen to its energy mix in its glass furnaces, with the goal of eventually achieving a 20% hydrogen mix.

Since electrolyser testing began in October 2024, the furnace has burned 109,000 cubic meters of hydrogen at the site, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 70 tons.

“The testing phase with the hydrogen combination went well and had no impact on the quality of the glass or furnace,” explains Daniel Johansson, Project Manager for AGP Europe.

“Our goal is to replace 20% of the natural gas in the furnace with green hydrogen, which will reduce the carbon footprint of our glass packaging production at Limmared.”

“Replacing a portion of the natural gas with green hydrogen in the furnace marks a significant change in the way we produce glass packaging sustainably,” adds Martin Petersson, CEO of AGP Europe.

“In the future, the combination of hydrogen and other sustainable technologies, such as hybrid melting, will help Ardagh Group and our customers achieve their emissions reduction targets and advance the decarbonization of the glass industry.”

UK-based Ryze Hydrogen and Portugal-based Rega Energy have played a key role in driving the decarbonization of the glass manufacturing industry.

Last month, Rega announced that it would supply green hydrogen and oxygen to Leerdam Crisal Glass to decarbonize glassware production in Portugal.