SolarGlas AG Builds The First Float Glass Furnace 100% Dedicated To The Production Of Solar Glass
The growth of the solar markets, both PV and thermal, create a shortage
of ultra-white (low iron) glass. Munich based SolarGlas AG starts to
build a specialised float glass plant for the production of solar
glass to serve this market. After an extensive site selection process
the decision was taken for Forst in the federal state of Brandenburg,
Germany, because of the vicinity to a large portion of German solar
module manufacturers, the great commitment of the municipality with
its mayor J. Goldschmidt and the support by the federal state of
Brandenburg with its federal agency "ZukunftsAgentur Brandenburg".
The furnace will have a daily capacity of up to 500 tons, which equals
an annual production capacity of around 15 - 18 million square meters.
The furnace concept brings together innovative technologies for the
first time: a so-called "dual-furnace" for the production of
structured cast glass for conventional silicon modules and also float
glass for thin film and solar thermal applications. Another world
novelty is the operation of the furnace with an oxygen-gas mixture.
This saves about 25% of energy and reduces the emissions by about 50%.
Therefore, this furnace will produce solar glass in the most
environmentally friendly way for the application in "green" products.
Technology partners of SolarGlas AG are the expert engineering company
DTEC in Gelsenkirchen as well as other well reputed German companies
with huge experience in the glass industry. The oxygen supply as well
as the special know-how for the burner technology is provided by Linde
Group.
Süddeutsche Leasing GmbH in Ulm, which is specialised in finance
leasing of large industrial production lines, backs the funding.
SolarGlas AG invests more than 60 million Euro. This amount includes
all up- and downstream production steps as well as already planned
future additions. The investment creates about 120 new jobs in an
otherwise economically underdeveloped area. First glass output is
scheduled for June 2009. At the moment, first talks for long-term
delivery contracts are being held and first deals are under
preparation.
Source: GlassOnWeb
