Partners: Guardian Glass, Encirc (part of Vidrala)
Funding: £6M from the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
DID YOU KNOW?
Electric boosting uses electrodes inside molten glass within the glass furnace, reducing the need for natural gas – the e-boost technologies we’re exploring could replace up to 15,000 homes worth natural gas demand with electricity, and that’s just for one furnace!
Why this matters
Glass is everywhere—from windows to bottles—but making it is energy-intensive and carbon-heavy. RaD-Electric is changing that. We’re helping to demonstrate that electric boosting can slash emissions, improve efficiency, and keep the UK glass industry competitive.
What we’re doing
- Supercharging furnaces with electric boost tech to cut reliance on fossil fuels and improve the efficiency of the furnace.
- Rapid switching between combustion and electric energy for grid flexibility.
- Industrial trials on container and float glass furnaces to test real-world impact
Key outputs
- Build CFD models to simulate heat transfer and material flow under electric-boosting scenarios.
- Develop new control systems for rapid energy switching.
- Commission our pilot facility with up to 80% electric-heating capacity.
- Conduct industrial trials to benchmark electric super-boost against conventional processes.
- Assess economic viability of ‘demand side response’ and e-super boost furnaces to help balance local electricity networks.
- Share findings and collaborate across the foundational industries.
Get involved in future projects
This project is a blueprint for how your organisation can:
- Shape the future of glass manufacturing. Be part of pioneering technology that will define the next generation of furnaces.
- Collaborate with industry leaders. You could work alongside organisations like Guardian Glass and Encirc in high-profile government-backed projects
We help you adopt new technologies faster, cut R&D time, and save money – email us at info@glass-futures.org