Glassmaking: A Case Study of the Form Value of Electricity Used in Manufacturing

摘要

Electric and fuel melting of glass are compared separately and in combination from several standpoints: energy use and cost, environmental effects, investment cost with and without provision for abatement equipment, loss of raw materials and products, and value of by-products. Experience with substitution of electricity for fuels in the other two major fuel-using operations in glassmaking - refining and annealing - is summarized. Use of electricity as a source of heat in glassmaking is judged to be competitive in cost of capital for expansion of production and in cost of energy subsequent to deregulation of the price of natural gas. Other benefits of electric heat include improved working conditions and improved production efficiency. The electric route to glassmaking seems preferable from environmental and cost standpoints to other possibilities for substituting US sources of coal for declining reserves of oil and gas. (ERA citation 08:000702)