Transport and heavy industry just the beginning of hydrogen decarbonisation journey
If clean hydrogen was used exclusively to decarbonise transport and heavy industry, it would be a success story worth shouting from the rooftops, but there are so many other uses for the fuel.
A host of products that currently rely on natural gas and other forms of energy for their manufacture have the potential to take part in the decarbonisation revolution that is sweeping other industries.
For instance, last week, Unilever said it had begun to trial 100% hydrogen in the manufacture of personal care and home care products at its Port Sunlight factory in the Northwest of England.
A host of products that currently rely on natural gas and other forms of energy for their manufacture have the potential to take part in the hydrogen decarbonisation revolution that is sweeping other industries.
Heralded as the first large-scale demonstration of 100% hydrogen firing in a consumer goods production environment anywhere in the world, Unilever plans to use hydrogen to make products including washing powder Persil and hair care brand TRESemmé.
The trial involves the use of hydrogen to fire a boiler that provides steam for the production process. The results will inform the use of the clean fuel in manufacturing processes across the UK as it seeks to reach its net zero targets.
The trial, led by Progressive Energy, is part of the HyNet Industrial Fuel Switching Programme being carried out by HyNet, the hydrogen cluster around the Port of Liverpool backed by the likes of Eni, Essar and Cadent. Trials such as the one being carried out by Unilever will ensure companies are ready to go once HyNet starts producing hydrogen in bulk by the mid-2020s.
Hydrogen, produced by Vertex Hydrogen, will be carried to customers via the UK’s first 100% hydrogen pipeline network, being developed by Cadent.
Other sectors carrying out trials through the HyNet program include glass, food and drink, paper, chemicals, automotive and metals. NSG-Pilkington in August 2021 became the first company globally to manufacture glass using hydrogen. Among HyNet’s offtake partners is Ryze Hydrogen, which will supply the hydrogen fuel to Wrightbus to power its fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Protium is building a 40 MW green hydrogen facility in Teesside, which could help Quorn displace some of Quorn’s natural gas demand, saving 13,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
HyNet will initially produce blue hydrogen – made from hydrocarbons with the CO2 captured and stored or reused – with plans to produce green hydrogen – made by splitting water with renewable energy – at a later stage. By 2030, HyNet will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 million tonnes a year, the equivalent to removing 4 million cars from the road.
Hydrogen also has the potential to dramatically reduce emissions from the food and beverage industry, which is responsible for 35% of the UK’s total CO2 emissions.
In February, meat-free food manufacturer Quorn became the latest company in the sector to begin exploring opportunities and has teamed up with green hydrogen producer Protium and energy company Petrofac to test the feasibility of supplying green hydrogen via pipeline to its production facility in Billingham in the northeast of England.
Protium is building a 40 MW green hydrogen facility in Teesside, which could help Quorn displace some of Quorn’s natural gas demand, saving 13,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.
Clean hydrogen is being explored by an ever-increasing number of sectors to help companies achieve their net zero goals, heavy industry and transport in particular. As more businesses realise hydrogen is the solution they’ve been looking for, demand will soar.
Protium is also working with brewers, both large and small, to leverage hydrogen to decarbonise their businesses. On the larger side is Budweiser Brewing Group, the UK arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev, is exploring the use of green hydrogen at Magor brewery in South Wales, one of the largest in the UK. Hydrogen will fuel production as well as power its logistics, including heavy goods vehicles and forklift trucks.
A smaller, but still significant project sees Protium partnering with Canadian hydrogen investor Jericho Energy Ventures and Scotland’s Bruichladdich Distillery, which plans to use hydrogen combustion technology to heat the stills used to create its whiskey and artisanal gin, The Botanist.
Jericho Energy Ventures’ wholly owned subsidiary Hydrogen Technologies recently announced it has signed deals with two of North America’s largest food manufacturers to collaborate on the deployment of its zero-emission hydrogen boiler solution.
Clean hydrogen is being explored by an ever-increasing number of sectors to help companies achieve their net zero goals. As more businesses realise hydrogen is the solution they’ve been looking for, demand is likely to soar.
To meet that expected demand, we need to invest in hydrogen production today, with both capital and a regulatory structure that supports hydrogen investment. Our net zero future is relying on it.
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