Ardagh adopts green hydrogen for sustainable glass packaging in Sweden

SWEDEN – Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe (AGP-Europe), a division of the Ardagh Group, has introduced green hydrogen production at its Limmared facility, a move poised to transform sustainable glass manufacturing.

The facility now operates a 5MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyzer, powered by renewable electricity, to generate hydrogen as part of its furnace energy mix.

Since testing began in October, the Limmared furnace has utilized 109,000m³ of on-site-produced hydrogen, leading to a reduction of 70 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

Daniel Johansson, AGP-Europe Project Manager, shared the progress, “The testing phase using the hydrogen energy mix is progressing well, with no impact on glass quality or furnace performance.

“Our goal is to replace 20% of the natural gas in the furnace with green hydrogen, significantly reducing carbon emissions from our glass packaging produced in Limmared.”

This initiative is part of AGP-Europe’s strategy to integrate cleaner energy sources into its production processes.

The hydrogen-powered furnace complements the company’s NextGen Furnace in Obernkirchen, Germany, which operates with 60% electrical heating and has achieved a 64% reduction in CO₂ emissions.

Martin Petersson, CEO of AGP-Europe, emphasized the broader impact, “Replacing natural gas with green hydrogen marks a significant step in sustainably producing glass packaging.

“Combining hydrogen with technologies like hybrid melting will support our emissions reduction goals and drive decarbonization across the glass industry.” 

Expanding renewable energy portfolio

In addition to green hydrogen, AGP-Europe is strengthening its renewable energy initiatives. In September, the company signed a long-term virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Rezolv Energy.

This agreement will supply renewable electricity from Bulgaria’s St. George solar photovoltaic (PV) project, starting in April 2026.

The St. George solar project, with a 229MW capacity and nearly 400,000 PV panels, will provide AGP-Europe with 110GWh of renewable electricity annually over a 12-year term.

This marks one of Bulgaria’s first VPPAs and reinforces AGP-Europe’s commitment to sustainable energy.

The VPPA complements the company’s wind power agreements in Sweden, enabling AGP-Europe to diversify its energy portfolio.

By leveraging both solar and wind energy, AGP-Europe ensures a consistent and reliable power supply year-round, aligning with its long-term sustainability goals.

Ardagh’s integration of green hydrogen and renewable energy highlights its leadership in sustainable glass manufacturing.

These advancements pave the way for reduced emissions and set a benchmark for innovation in the global glass industry.

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