Kimberly-Clark will buy green hydrogen made from renewable energy

The owner of Kleenex and Andrex is to power its lavatory paper factories using “green” hydrogen as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushes natural gas prices to record levels.

Kimberly-Clark will buy green hydrogen made from wind and solar power as part of a deal with renewables company Carlton Power for its factory in Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, which it claims will reduce its reliance on natural gas by 30pc.

Heavy industrial users such as paper mills, steel makers, glass makers and cement plants, are being forced to explore alternatives to methane to power their manufacturing as the price of gas soars and pressure ramps up on businesses to switch to “green” energy. Hydrogen, which can be burned to produce heat or electricity with water as the only byproduct, is seen as a good replacement for natural gas, especially as it can be made using electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar. Challenges remain in making enough of it from renewable sources, and also storing it. As one of the smallest molecules, it can be absorbed by metal vessels which transport or store it, making them brittle and prone to cracking. Carlton Power’s carbon hydrogen project will initially feature a 35 MW electrolyser, which will produce around 3,500 tonnes of hydrogen every year, reducing 25,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions — equivalent to taking 580 trucks off UK roads annually. The hydrogen will be produced by the electrolyser using electricity that is generated from sources of renewable energy, primarily wind and solar power.  

Carlton is seeking government funding to help finance the construction of the £40m plant, which is expected to begin producing hydrogen in 2025. The UK’s gas grid will be up to 20pc hydrogen from next year in an effort to drive down carbon emissions, although higher concentrations will mean changes to domestic boilers are necessary.

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