The construction of Ardagh Glass Packaging’s (AGP) NextGen furnace in its facility in Obernkirchen, Germany has entered the final stages.

All refractory brickwork at the under-construction furnace is now completed, while the installation of electrical and other ancillary services is underway.

According to AGP, the hybrid NextGen furnace technology, will be powered by 80% renewable electricity and 20% gas, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions by as much as 60% in the furnace.

Ardagh Glass Packaging-Germany operations director Jens Schaefer said: "We are delighted to see this ground-breaking furnace nearing completion.

“We are firmly on track to deliver commercial bottles produced in the NextGen furnace this year; the next step will be the furnace heat-up, followed by full glass production in Q4. I would like to thank all the AGP team, our suppliers and sub-contractors who have worked with such dedication and focus to deliver this exciting project."

AGP broke ground on its ‘NextGen’ hybrid electric furnace at its Obernkirchen glass production facility in May this year.

The hybrid furnace will enable the glass production facility to switch to renewable electricity.

This large-scale hybrid electric furnace will leverage high levels of recycled glass cullet to produce up to 350 tonnes of glass bottles per day.

The facility is expected to be operational and start to produce commercial glass containers later this year.

It will initially produce bottles in amber glass, with the capability of making other colours.

The development will expedite Ardagh’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy and play crucial milestone in its journey towards decarbonisation.