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Energy Use and CO2 emissions (EU ETS)
Energy Use and CO2 output
The glass manufacturing industry is energy-intensive and thus by its very nature tends to produce CO2. In spite of this, the industry is a positive contributor to global efforts to reduce overall CO2 emissions from human economic activity. This is done not only by constantly applying the most efficient available methods and technologies to our manufacturing processes; a significant part of the glass industry's contribution also flows from the fact that our products can make buildings and houses far more energy-efficient than they traditionally have been, for example by using or blocking solar heat as the requirements may be, and through highly effective insulating properties of modern windows and glass façades. As a consequence the CO2 emitted during production is offset after only a few months of use of energy-efficient glazing. Therefore during the lifetime of a window, the CO2 emitted during production is more than compensated by the huge energy savings realized.
The EU ETS directive and carbon leakage
In the context of the revised EU directive establishing a greenhouse gas Emission Trading Schemes, ETS, the European Commission is currently preparing the necessary implementing measures.
In this framework, the flat glass manufacturing industry has been considered as exposed to a significant risk of carbon leakage. It means that the flat glass industry, along with other industries considered alike, will benefit from 100% of free CO2 allowances up to the benchmark values as of 2012.
In December 2010, the European Commission published a draft decision defining the number of benchmarks, their levels and the rules for the allocation of allowances. The product benchmark for float glass covers CO2 emissions generated during the upstream process of glass melting and is defined as quantities of glass exiting the lehr. This definition is a priori sensible to compare efficiency of installations but is critically important that it is applied uniformly throughout the EU. Further guidance from the European Commission could help in that regard.
For more information on benchmarks in the glass industries, please check the CPIV position paper.
Related Document(s)
