Kimberly-Clark, the owner of well-known brands such as Andrex, Kleenex and Huggies, is switching its energy supply at two factories from gas to green hydrogen. The move comes as a result of a partnership with HYRO, a joint venture between Octopus and RES. The facilities in Kent and Wales will have electrolysers powered by solar and wind, as well as hydrogen-ready boilers to reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing. The combined capacity of these two factories is 22.5MW.
This change to green hydrogen is part of HYRO’s plan to invest £3 billion in green hydrogen plants across the UK. HYRO aims to provide hydrogen produced from home-grown clean energy like wind and solar, which can be a winning solution for heavy industries that are unable to electrify.
Alex Brierley from Octopus Energy Generation said that the deal with Kimberly-Clark is a significant step towards manufacturing well-loved household brands with green hydrogen instead of polluting gas. He hopes that more businesses will follow their lead towards a future without fossil fuels.
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Green hydrogen, developed and produced using renewable energy in the UK, can provide a reliable and cost-competitive source of power for industrial businesses, according to RES’ Rachel Ruffle. Oriol Margo from Kimberly-Clark stated that these developments represent a huge step towards the company’s ambition to move solely to renewable energy to manufacture their products in the UK by 2030.
This shift towards green hydrogen is a significant development in the energy industry and has many benefits for the environment. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, making it a clean and sustainable energy source. It has the potential to reduce carbon emissions from heavy industries, such as manufacturing, which are unable to electrify their processes.
Furthermore, green hydrogen has a wide range of applications, from powering vehicles to generating electricity. The versatility of green hydrogen makes it an attractive option for businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint and transition towards more sustainable energy sources.
In conclusion, the partnership between HYRO and Kimberly-Clark represents a significant step towards a future powered by green hydrogen. The investment in green hydrogen plants across the UK is an important move towards reducing carbon emissions and transitioning towards a more sustainable energy future. With more businesses following in the footsteps of Kimberly-Clark, we can hope to see a cleaner and greener future for generations to come.
