Kimberly-Clark Pumps $165 Million into Green Hydrogen for Decarbonization of Manufacturing Processes
Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland Invests in Green Hydrogen Infrastructure
Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, the manufacturer of household brands Andrex and Kleenex, is making a significant stride towards decarbonizing its manufacturing operations. The company is investing over £125 million (approximately $169 million) in green hydrogen infrastructure at its sites in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, and Northfleet, Kent.
The goal of this investment is to achieve a 50% reduction in natural gas use across these UK production lines starting in 2027, supporting Kimberly-Clark's broader ambition to operate all UK manufacturing on 100% renewable energy by 2030.
To make this possible, Kimberly-Clark has signed two long-term offtaker hydrogen supply agreements with energy partners. The Barrow site will partner with Carlton Power, while the Northfleet site will partner with HYRO, a joint venture of Octopus Energy Generation and RES.
A green hydrogen facility will be installed adjacent to each plant. The Barrow project is expected to produce about 100 GWh of green hydrogen annually, while the Northfleet facility will supply around 47 GWh annually. Together, they are projected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 28,500 tonnes per year, equivalent to removing 20,000 petrol cars from UK roads.
Both projects have secured planning permission. Barrow received consent in June 2023, and Northfleet in August 2024. They have also received support through the Hydrogen Production Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, under the UK Government's Hydrogen Allocation Round One (HAR1), which aims to accelerate hydrogen deployment at scale.
Dan Howell, Vice President and Managing Director at Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, emphasized the strategic importance of adopting green hydrogen to address energy supply and decarbonization challenges in an energy-intensive industry. He highlighted Kimberly-Clark as the first UK consumer goods manufacturer to embrace green hydrogen at scale.
These partnerships and investments position Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland as a leader in industrial decarbonization through green hydrogen in the consumer goods sector, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing renewable energy adoption at their Kent and Cumbria production sites.
- The investment in green hydrogen infrastructure by Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland is a strategic move within the environmental-science realm, aiming to address energy supply and decarbonization challenges in an energy-intensive industry.
- The company's goal is to operate all UK manufacturing on 100% renewable energy by 2030, which includes a 50% reduction in natural gas use by 2027, supported by renewable-energy sources like green hydrogen.
- The financial sector has also shown interest in this transition, with Kimberly-Clark securing support through the Hydrogen Production Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund, under the UK Government's Hydrogen Allocation Round One (HAR1), demonstrating the potential for investments in this sector.
- The successful implementation of green hydrogen facilities at both the Barrow and Northfleet sites will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the global effort to combat climate-change.
