Ceramic and glass business news of the week for May 1, 2023

PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Taiwan’s largest solar plant goes online

Singapore-based renewables developer Vena Energy commissioned the largest photovoltaic project in Taiwan. It says its 272 MW E2 Solar Project will account for 4% of the island’s annual solar output.

AGC purchases green electricity for Belgian sites

AGC Glass Europe signed an electricity purchase agreement with Luminus, a Belgian electricity producer, for the supply of green electricity from wind turbines for its Belgian glass production sites. This agreement should reduce carbon emissions by about 13,000 tonnes per year.

Vitro confirms $96.3 million US solar glass production investment

Vitro’s Architectural Glass unit is to invest $93.6 million to rebuild and modernize a production line at its Meadville plant in Cochranton, Pa. It has entered into an agreement with the U.S.’s largest fully vertically integrated solar manufacturer, First Solar, to manufacture glass for the company’s thin film photovoltaic solar panels.

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Şişecam becomes the sole shareholder of Şişecam Çevre Sistemleri

Şişecam is now the sole shareholder of Şişecam Çevre Sistemleri. The company, which was founded by Şişecam and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 2016, supports the institutionalization of Türkiye’s glass waste collection and recycling industry. Şişecam exercised the option to purchase EBRD’s 10% stake.

Pink hydrogen production system to be developed by Hyundai, USNC, and SK Ecoplant

Hyundai Engineering signed a memorandum of understanding with U.S.-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and SK Ecoplant to collaborate on the development of H2 Micro Hub, a cost-effective pink hydrogen production system (hydrogen generated through nuclear-powered electrolysis). The project will involve joint research over five years.

OTHER STORIES

Project opportunity: Ohio Defense Manufacturing Community

In August 2020, Ohio was awarded the highly sought-after designation as a Defense Manufacturing Community. Ohio’s Community identified the need to support implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies to build a stronger supply chain for defense manufacturers. Ohio-based defense manufacturers with 600 or fewer employees can apply for funding to implement various projects toward this goal.

Paul Jamieson named president & CEO of Allied Mineral Products

Paul Jamieson, current president of Allied Mineral Products, LLC, was named president & CEO of Allied effective May 1, 2023. This change is in conjunction with current chairman & CEO, Jon R. Tabor, announcing his decision to step away from his CEO duties to work exclusively as Allied’s Board Chairman.

Croatia launches rebate program for solar, other renewables, batteries

The Croatian government allocated €60 million ($65.6 million) in subsidies for businesses to install 80 MW of renewables and 20 MWh of batteries. Subsidies will come from the European Union’s Modernization Fund, which was set up in 2021 to help 10 member states to upgrade their grids and meet 2030 energy targets.

South Korea aims to deliver the world’s first solid state-batteries for EVs

South Korea is investing 20 trillion won ($15 billion) by 2030 in the world’s first solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. According to a statement from the presidential office acquired by Bloomberg, the country plans to be the first in the world to commercialize solid-state batteries.

Australian government to increase electric vehicle charging network

Australia announced plans to build 117 new fast electric vehicle charging sites on highways around the country. The project aims to ensure a fast charger approximately every 150 kilometers on the national highways.

Mexico nearshoring boom helps cement maker GCC

Mexican cement maker Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua is seeing benefits from Mexico’s nearshoring boom, as global companies are relocating to areas near the U.S. border.

MARKET TRENDS

UK battery energy storage market to grow to 24 GW by 2030

The United Kingdom’s battery energy storage market will grow to 24 GW by the end of the decade and account for almost 9% of all global capacity installations, according to energy research firm Rystad Energy. In terms of capacity by 2030, the UK is forecast to sit fourth in the table only behind China, the U.S., and Germany.

India’s quest to build the world’s largest solar farms

Pavagada Ultra Mega Solar Park, a clean-power plant the size of Manhattan, could be a model for the world—or a cautionary tale, The New Yorker reports.

NEW PRODUCTS

Enabled by SCHOTT: vivo X Fold 2 and vivo X Flip feature cutting-edge specialty glass

vivo’s new foldable flagship phones feature extensive glass innovations from SCHOTT: ultrathin glass enables the foldable display of vivo X Flip, while high-performance cover glass of the Xensation series protects the external display and camera optics.

LionGlass to help extend glass manufacturing furnace lifetimes

Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University created a new family of glass compositions, called LionGlass, that will help lower energy costs and extend glass manufacturing furnace lifetimes. The next stage of LionGlass development is to partner with a glass manufacturing partner(s) to aid scale-up development and commercialization.