UK to build the world’s first commercial-scale hydrogen-fired brick kiln plant
Project retrofits two kilns, replacing 224 gas burners with hydrogen systems, plus new supply and control upgrades.
The UK will advance a landmark hydrogen kiln project, signaling a major leap toward decarbonising heavy clay manufacturing.
Building materials firm Wienerberger UK & Ireland has successfully secured government-backed funding for the facility at its Denton brickworks in Greater Manchester.
Supported by the UK Government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, the initiative will help drive a £6 million upgrade, replacing natural gas kilns with systems powered entirely by green hydrogen.
Once complete, the facility is set to become the world’s first commercial-scale hydrogen-fired brick plant, positioning Wienerberger at the forefront of low-carbon industrial heat innovation.
Hydrogen industry shift
The UK Government has identified hydrogen firing as a promising long-term solution for decarbonising high-temperature industrial processes.
In this regard, Wienerberger’s Denton brickworks is emerging as a flagship project for the UK ceramics sector. The site is set to provide a scalable blueprint for reducing emissions across the company’s wider manufacturing network.
According to the firm, the project will see two existing tunnel kilns retrofitted, replacing 224 natural gas-powered burners with hydrogen-compatible systems. It also includes installing new hydrogen supply infrastructure and upgrading electrical and control systems—without altering the kilns’ structural integrity.
Aligned with the Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HAR) funding scheme, hydrogen will be supplied under a 15-year agreement with Trafford Green Hydrogen, a venture developed by Carlton Power and Schroders Greencoat. Fuel deliveries will be made via tube trailers to a dedicated on-site offloading and pressure reduction facility.
Wienerberger aims to have one kiln fully operational on hydrogen—or both partially converted—by autumn 2027. A full site-wide transition to 100 percent hydrogen firing is scheduled to begin in autumn 2028, marking a significant milestone in industrial decarbonisation.
Low carbon bricks
Once fully operational, the transition from natural gas to green hydrogen at Wienerberger’s Denton brickworks is expected to cut CO₂ emissions by more than 11,600 tonnes annually—equivalent to a 9 percent reduction in the company’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
According to the company, the savings are comparable to the emissions generated from heating nearly 5,000 UK homes for a year, underscoring the project’s environmental impact. The investment forms a key part of Wienerberger’s long-term strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions while addressing growing demand for low-carbon building materials across the UK.
As the site prepares for hydrogen-fired production, on-site teams will undergo specialised training focused on new safety systems and updated operational procedures. At the same time, extensive testing conducted through a UK Government-backed, cross-industry research programme led by Ceramics UK has confirmed that the transition will not affect product quality.
Findings show that the strength, appearance, and overall technical performance of the clay bricks will remain consistent, ensuring that sustainability gains are achieved without compromising performance standards.
Keith Barker, COO at Wienerberger, in a statement, said:
The Denton project will deliver substantial reductions in carbon emissions, whilst upholding product quality, production capacity, and operational robustness.
” It exemplifies our commitment to building for what’s next - embracing innovative technologies and sustainable practices that shape the future of construction and manufacturing,”
Alongside this project, the company is also advancing the UK’s first fully electric tunnel kiln for roof tile production at its Broomfleet site—highlighting a diversified, multi-technology pathway toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
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UK to build the world’s first commercial-scale hydrogen-fired brick kiln plant, source
