U.S. Cardinal to Deploy World's First Float Glass Carbon Capture System, Capturing 130,000 Tonnes Annually

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Glass manufacturer Cardinal Glass Industries has announced plans to deploy the world's first carbon capture unit for float glass production at its facility in Winlock, Washington.

The system is designed to capture approximately 130,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, removing up to 95% of targeted emissions from the plant's high-temperature manufacturing process gas streams.

The project's feasibility study, design, and engineering phases have been completed, with Cardinal having issued purchase orders and placed deposits on long-lead equipment. Commercial operation is targeted to commence in the first quarter of 2029.

The project is privately funded, and Cardinal is exploring future commercial markets for the captured biogenic carbon dioxide.

Additionally, Cardinal and its Italian engineering partner K2-CO2 have secured a patent for a dedicated system capable of recovering and utilizing other gases from furnace flue gas streams.

Float glass furnaces require extremely high temperatures and operate continuously, presenting unique technical challenges for carbon capture technology in this application. Cardinal, in collaboration with K2-CO2, has adapted existing absorption technology to meet the rigorous demands of industrial float glass production and has deployed dedicated controls and instrumentation for real-time monitoring of capture rates.

Once operational, the project will help Cardinal reduce the embodied carbon of its glass products, enabling architects and developers to meet increasingly stringent low-carbon building codes.

Bowie Neumayer, President of Cardinal Glass Industries, positions the Winlock project as the first step in the company's broader long-term manufacturing layout strategy. Neumayer stated: "The Winlock project provides us with a clear first installation site, specific operational targets, and the opportunity to generate performance data that will be used to evaluate future deployment across additional float glass production lines."