Kraft Heinz is partnering with Carlton Power to deliver the company’s first renewable green hydrogen project in the UK.
The proposed scheme has the potential to fuel at least 50% of Kraft Heinz’s Kitt Green manufacturing plant in Wigan (pictured), helping reduce carbon emissions and advance the company towards its larger net zero ambitions.
The proposed 20MW Kitt Green hydrogen plant is expected to meet more than 50% of the site’s annual natural gas demand and reduce the plant’s carbon emissions by 16000T/yr.
The hydrogen will be produced by an electrolyser using electricity generated from sources of renewable energy, primarily wind and solar power.
Kitt Green is Carlton Power’s fifth green hydrogen project it’s developing in the UK.
Carlton Power hydrogen projects director Eric Adams said: “We are delighted to be working with Kraft Heinz to bring forward a green hydrogen facility at Kitt Green to help the company accelerate its efforts to decarbonise their operations.
“It is critical that projects like this are brought forward to support British companies, especially in manufacturing, in reducing their carbon emissions and reaching Net Zero.”
President for Northern Europe at The Kraft Heinz Company Jojo Lins De Noronha added: “Our agreement with Carlton Power is an important step forward in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve our global goal of net zero emissions by 2050, with a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030.
“We are excited to partner together to develop our first, renewable hydrogen energy project globally and hope to see more projects like these in the future.”
Subject to planning approval and financing, the £40m Carlton/Kraft Heinz renewable hydrogen scheme is earmarked to enter operation in 2026.
Its construction will be contingent on securing financial support from the UK Government’s second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) of the Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM).
Over the next 12-18 months, Kraft Heinz and Carlton Power will seek to obtain planning permission for the scheme.
In parallel, the two companies will work together to obtain grant funding and operational financial support from the UK Department of Energy Supply and Net Zero (DESNZ) with a target to deliver hydrogen to Kitt Green in 2026.
A submission to DESNZ will be made this year (via HAR2), following consultations with local and national stakeholders.
The green hydrogen scheme is Carlton Power’s third to be developed in the North West of England and its second in the Greater Manchester region.