Kraft Heinz Partners with Carlton Power for Renewable Hydrogen Plant in UK

Embarking on an ambitious journey towards sustainable manufacturing, The Kraft Heinz Company, a global leader in food production, has partnered with UK-based Carlton Power to establish a renewable green hydrogen plant at its Kitt Green manufacturing plant in Wigan, Greater Manchester.

The proposed Kitt Green hydrogen plant, with a capacity of 20 MW, is poised to supply over half of the plant’s annual natural gas needs, significantly slashing its carbon emissions by an estimated 16,000 tons per year. Remarkably, the hydrogen will be generated by an electrolyser, utilizing electricity derived from renewable sources like wind and solar power.

Kitt Green stands as one of the largest food processing plants in Europe and a pivotal facility for Kraft Heinz, producing an impressive 250,000 tons of food annually and employing around 850 people. This venture into green hydrogen energy is a first for Kraft Heinz on a global scale.

This project is not just a milestone for Kraft Heinz but also for Carlton Power, as it represents their fifth green hydrogen initiative in the UK. Eric Adams, Hydrogen Projects Director at Carlton Power, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the project's importance in supporting British companies, particularly in manufacturing, to diminish their carbon footprint and progress towards Net Zero emissions.

Jojo Lins De Noronha, President of Northern Europe at Kraft Heinz, highlighted the project's alignment with the company's environmental strategy. She stated, "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 percent reduction in emissions by 2030."

The 40 million pound Carlton/Kraft Heinz renewable hydrogen scheme, subject to planning approval and financing, is expected to become operational in 2026. Its realization hinges on securing financial backing from the UK Government's Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) under the Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM). This government initiative aims to facilitate the UK industry's transition to hydrogen and foster the growth of the hydrogen economy nationwide.

Over the next 12-18 months, Kraft Heinz and Carlton Power will endeavor to obtain planning permission and secure grant funding and operational financial support from the UK Department of Energy Supply and Net Zero (DESNZ). A submission to DESNZ is planned for this year, following consultations with local and national stakeholders.

This green hydrogen scheme marks Carlton Power's third development in the North West of England and its second in the Greater Manchester region. The company has already made significant strides in the area with successful projects in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and Barrow-in-Furness, South Cumbria.

In 2021, Kraft Heinz announced its ambitious goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operational footprint and global supply chain by 2050. This latest venture with Carlton Power is a crucial step towards realizing that vision, setting a precedent for sustainable practices in the food manufacturing industry.