Brick giant to fire up world’s first hydrogen kilns | Construction Enquirer News
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Wienerberger Manchester factory to pioneer low-carbon brick production
The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund award will support a £6m programme to convert the site’s gas-fired kilns to run on 100% green hydrogen. Two tunnel kilns will be retrofitted, replacing 224 burners and installing new hydrogen supply, control and electrical systems without altering the kiln structures. The move will make Denton the first commercial-scale brick plant globally to fire using hydrogen, creating a template for wider decarbonisation across the ceramics sector. Hydrogen will be supplied under a 15-year deal with Trafford Green Hydrogen, with fuel delivered by tube trailer to a new onsite offloading facility. One kiln is due to be fully operational, or both partially converted, by autumn 2027, with full site transition starting in autumn 2028. The switch is expected to cut emissions by more than 11,600 tonnes a year, around 9% of Wienerberger’s Scope 1 and 2 footprint. Testing has confirmed no impact on brick performance, while site teams will now begin training on new hydrogen systems.
