The company Wienerberger will transform its plant in Denton, Manchester, into the world’s first commercial-scale brick factory powered entirely by green hydrogen.
The project, with an investment of nearly 7 million euros, aims to convert two existing tunnel kilns, replacing 224 natural gas burners with a hydrogen supply system.
Innovation in the ceramic industry
The manufacturing of bricks, tiles, and ceramics requires very high temperatures and enormous energy consumption. Electrifying these processes remains complex and costly, making hydrogen a viable alternative to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify.
The hydrogen supply agreement was signed for 15 years with Trafford Green Hydrogen, a company developed by Carlton Power and Schroders Greencoat. The fuel will be delivered by tanker trucks to a discharge and pressure reduction station at the plant.
Testing and product quality
One of the critical points in the energy transition is maintaining the quality of the final product. Tests conducted with Ceramics UK confirmed that bricks fired with hydrogen retain their mechanical properties, appearance, and technical performance, ensuring that sustainability does not mean more expensive or lower quality materials.
Environmental impact
When the plant is fully operational with hydrogen, a reduction of more than 11,600 tons of CO₂ per year is expected, equivalent to the annual energy consumption of about 4,957 British households.
This advancement represents a decisive step in the decarbonization of industrial thermal processes, one of the major challenges of the energy transition.
Hybrid strategy
The project is part of a broader strategy by Wienerberger that also includes electric kilns for tile manufacturing at other facilities.
This hybrid approach — hydrogen on one hand, electrification on the other — reflects the European reality: there is no single solution, but rather a set of complementary technologies to reduce emissions.
Institutional support and timeline
The project is funded by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) and the British government’s Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HAR) program. The Denton factory thus becomes a flagship project for the ceramic sector, offering a replicable model for other plants in Europe.
- 2027: one kiln is expected to be fully operational or both partially adapted.
- 2028: start of the complete transition to 100% hydrogen firing.
The conversion of the Denton plant marks a global milestone in the construction materials industry. It is not just about changing a fuel, but demonstrating that it is possible to transform the energy core of heavy industry without compromising product quality.
The United Kingdom positions itself as a pioneer in the application of green hydrogen on a commercial scale, consolidating a model that could be replicated in other high-temperature sectors.
