Kimberly-Clark, one of the world’s largest paper good producers, hopes to see a 50% reduction in natural gas consumption across its UK production lines by 2027. Hydrogen does not contain carbon in its chain so does not emit CO2 at the point of use.
To be classified green hydrogen, however, it must be generated from electrolyzers–which separate the two hydrogen molecules from water–and powered by carbon-free resources such as solar, wind, nuclear and hydro.
“Now is the right time for us to tap into hydrogen’s significant potential, improving energy supply and our decarbonization needs,” Dan Howell, vice president and managing director at Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, said in a statement. “We are delighted to be the first UK consumer goods manufacturer to really embrace green hydrogen, showing that an energy intensive industry can take the lead and overcome the technical challenge and adopt green hydrogen at scale.
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The offtake deal will help finance a green hydrogen production facility next to Kimberly-Clark’s Barrow plant, while another green H2 site will be built on the Northfleet site. Together the two paper plants produce nearly one billion Andrex toilet rolls and more than 150 million boxes of Kleenex tissues annually.
Carlton Power will lead the Barrow green hydrogen project, while HYRO will deliver the Northfleet facility. Both projects will supply hydrogen to replace natural gas for steam generation.
“Our development of the Barrow scheme has been forged through strong partnerships with Kimberly-Clark, our financial partner Schroders Greencoat and with DESNZ as well as with local agencies and stakeholders,” said Keith Clarke, Founder and Chief Executive of Carlton Power. “Our Barrow Green Hydrogen facility will be the first in a series of projects that we will bring into commercial operation over the next 2-4 years to support UK industry make the transition to using green hydrogen and away from fossil fuels.”
The two green hydrogen projects are supported with funding from the UK government after being selected for the Government’s Hydrogen Production Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund).
Green hydrogen is an energy-dense gas which can contribute to fueling baseload power generation and combined heat and power. It is also the most abundant chemical element in the universe but is challenging to produce at scale. One method is electrolysis, and the other is the more carbon-intensive steam reforming of methane gas.
Hydrogen also is a reliable energy carrier, stores efficiently and can also produce ammonia for both agricultural and maritime transportation purposes.
