The undisclosed funds from the UK government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) will go towards a £6m ($8m) conversion of the existing gas-fired kiln to run on hydrogen.
Wienerberger expects to begin 100% hydrogen-fuelled operation by late 2028.
The project will involve retrofitting two kiln tunnels at Denton brickworks in Greater Manchester by replacing 224 natural gas-powered burners with hydrogen-capable systems, installing new hydrogen infrastructure, and upgrading electrical systems.
Wienerberger says the switch could reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the facility by over 11,600 tonnes-per-year.
The company says it will source green hydrogen from Carlton Power’s UK government-subsidised project in Trafford.
Carlton’s 15MW Trafford Green Hydrogen project is due online in 2027. It will receive 15-year revenue subsidies from the UK’s first Hydrogen Allocation Round. The scheme offers a strike price of £241/MWh ($321.9) – around £9/kg ($12.02) of hydrogen.
Similar to power contracts for difference, the strike price tops up revenues when market prices fall below £241/MWh and claws back funds when prices rise above it.
Keith Barker, Chief Operating Officer at Wienerberger UK & Ireland said that the funding is “truly pivotal” for the firm and the broader ceramics sector.
“It exemplifies our commitment to building for what’s next - embracing innovative technologies and sustainable practices that shape the future of construction and manufacturing,” he added.
The UK government has pushed decarbonisation of high-temperature industrial processes through its earlier Industrial Fuel Switching programme, which backed hydrogen trials with companies including BOC UK and Novelis.
Many believe hydrogen can play a role in decarbonising high-temperature industries where electrification would be difficult.
However, for many sectors, hydrogen is not a direct drop-in solution and may require fundamental process redesign. This is compounded by policy uncertainty, weak economic incentives, and the limited availability, high production costs, and transportation complexity of the gas.
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