Şişecam Invests in Frosted Glass, Increases Energy Capabilities

Şişecam will increase the capacity of its second frosted glass furnace in Mersin, Turkey, from 180,000 to 244,000 tons per year, the company says. It adds that it will further increase its yearly capacity of energy glass processing from 20 million square meters to 26.6 million square meters.

The total investment of the two projects is $243 million, Şişecam reports.

“While the cost of energy increases, the decrease in the costs of generating electricity from solar energy and the sustainability focus in the global arena offer new opportunities in the frosted glass and energy glass industries,” says Ahmet Kırman, chairman and executive member of the board. “With this strategic move, Şişecam’s installed frosted glass production capacity will reach 324,000 per year by the end of 2024. This is compatible with our sustainable value-added production strategy.”

Kırman adds that Şişecam’s further investment in energy is crucial because the global solar energy installed power is expected to increase “fourfold by 2030 and exceed 3,000 GW.”

“The U.S., which currently provides 3% of its energy needs from solar energy, aims to increase this rate to 40% by 2030 and 45% by 2050,” says Kirman. “This transformation also accelerates the initiatives of industrial players to transform their energy consumption into green energy sources and to limit their carbon footprints. More and more companies are putting renewable energy investments on their agenda. We believe that this investment will support the development of the rapidly growing solar energy sector in Turkey.”