Producing 100% Green Hydrogen
We are at the forefront of the transition to Net Zero
Wigan Green Hydrogen is one of a number of Green Hydrogen schemes in development by Carlton Power in the UK.
Wigan Green Hydrogen is an industry leading project that will use renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen fuel for Kraft Heinz’s Kitt Green manufacturing plant in Wigan. It will have the scope to expand into other industries and for transport use. The initial phase plant will feature a 20MW electrolyser, capable of producing around 2000 tonnes (80GWh) of hydrogen per annum.
The project is the second green hydrogen scheme that Carlton Power is seeking to develop in Greater Manchester and its third in the North West Region. It will be Kraft Heinz’s first-ever green hydrogen project across its global operations and it has the potential to meet 50% of Kitt Green’s annual natural gas demand. Future phases may be brought forward to meet additional demands for hydrogen in the local area. The electrolyser will use electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources, primarily wind and solar power.
There will be storage vessels at the electrolyser site, located in a dedicated storage area to create a method of storing excess renewable energy and balance the production of hydrogen with the demand of Kraft Heinz, the hydrogen offtaker.
Green hydrogen will be transported to Kitt Green via a dedicated pipeline. Kitt Green is one of the largest food processing plants in Europe and one of the largest Kraft Heinz facilities in the world, producing a quarter of a million tons of food annually and employing approximately 850 people. Wigan Green Hydrogen will reduce Kitt Green’s demand for natural gas by around 50% and its carbon emissions by 16,000T per year.
The project supports Kraft Heinz’s global goal of reducing its energy use by 15% by 2025, and its global ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and achieve a 50% reduction by 2030.
The initial £40m project, which is subject to planning approval and financing, is scheduled to enter operation in 2026/27. It will see sustainable hydrogen fuel produced at scale, and subject to demand will create opportunities for businesses in Wigan and the surrounding area to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The project will be designed to operate for 15 to 20 years.
We intend that the Wigan Green Hydrogen plant will be deployed under Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2) of the UK Government’s Hydrogen Production Business Model, a multi-million-pound programme to encourage the growth of the hydrogen economy. Securing financial support from the UK Government will be necessary to build and operate the Wigan project.
Carlton and Kraft Heinz are now working together to secure local planning, and in parallel obtain grant funding and operational financial support from the Department of Energy Supply and Net Zero (DESNZ). A submission to DESNZ will be made into HAR2 later this year (2024).
Why Wigan?
Wigan Green Hydrogen has the potential to supply cleaner energy to power industrial facilities in the area, enabling sectors that are difficult to decarbonise to move away from fossil fuels. As capacity of the plant scales up and demand for hydrogen increases in other applications, our green hydrogen will be able to deliver alternative fuel for industrial related transportation and low carbon public transport in Wigan.
Along with the Trafford Green Hydrogen project, Wigan will assist the decarbonisation of Greater Manchester. It will enable first movers to begin the transition to net zero and establish a hydrogen economy in the region. This will provide lasting high-skilled green jobs, help to safeguard existing employment and strengthen local businesses.
Wigan and Trafford Green Hydrogen will assist the UK to achieve its net zero targets by enabling industrial off takers, like Kraft Heinz, to transition away from natural gas and stimulating further investment in renewable energy projects, thereby supporting the greening of the electricity grid.