Kellogg’s UK Plant Pioneers Hydrogen-Powered Production
The initiative replaces natural gas with hydrogen to fuel cereal production operations.
Kellogg’s food production facility in Manchester, is the first in the United Kingdom to use hydrogen as a direct fuel source for manufacturing. It became the first company that use hydrogen power to toast cereal on its production line during 3 weeks of government-funded demonstration.
Kellanova UK secured £3 million in government funding in 2023 through the HyNet Industrial Fuel Switching 2 programme, backed by the UK Government’s £55 million Industrial Fuel Switching Competition under the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).
By the end of 2024, Kellanova successfully reduced its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by 54%, moving closer to its goal of a 63% emissions reduction across its European operations by 2030.
In addition to demonstrating the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source in food manufacturing, the initiative also helped employees gain valuable skills and training, further strengthening Kellanova’s commitment to sustainability and workforce development.
This milestone highlights the role of hydrogen in decarbonising the food industry while reinforcing Kellanova’s leadership in low-carbon manufacturing solutions.
Sam Bistiaux, Vice President of Manufacturing at Kellanova, stated: “The production of our cereal using hydrogen is an exciting first for us. It’s a significant moment for our people, our operations, and the industry as it demonstrates the potential of investing in low-carbon fuels to drive decarbonisation. We are excited to be at the pioneering edge of this process, with the technology still in its infancy, and the long-term potential truly transformative.
“As we look to continue reducing our carbon footprint, we hope that sharing examples of best practice and learnings from the demonstration can equip other businesses with the confidence and know-how to do the same so that we can take urgent and collective action towards a greener future.”
David Parkin, Chair of the HyNet Alliance, also commented on the initiative: “It’s been fantastic to see the results of this demonstration, as part of HyNet’s Industrial Fuel Switching 2 programme, and to see the positive impact investment in hydrogen could have for industry, society, and the planet.
“Having businesses like Kellogg’s taking part has been hugely valuable in paving the way for other food manufacturers to explore low-carbon fuel, think about their own decarbonisation roadmap, and help to make a critical contribution to the UK’s journey to Net Zero carbon emissions.”
