Kellanova UK Factory Makes Cereals With Hydrogen Instead of Natural Gas
A Kellanova plant in the UK recently completed a government-funded demonstration of using hydrogen gas in place of natural gas to power the toasting oven at the factory, lowering the plant’s carbon emissions.
The pilot last August at the Trafford Park plant in Manchester, England, made Kellanova the first food manufacturer in the country to produce cereal using this method. It successfully produced Corn Flakes, Bran Flakes, Special K and Rice Krispies.
The three-week demonstration was part of the government’s HyNet Industrial Fuel Switching program, funded through the UK Government’s £55m Industrial Fuel Switching Competition, as part of the £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP). Kellanova UK was selected to receive £3 million funding by the Dept. for Energy Security & Net Zero in 2023.
It showcased the role hydrogen can play to support industry decarbonization and forms part of the manufacturer’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, part of its Better Days promise. Plus it provided learning and upskilling opportunities to employees.
“The production of our cereal using hydrogen is an exciting first for us,” said Sam Bistiaux, vice president of manufacturing for Kellanova Europe. “It’s a significant moment for our people, our operations and the industry as a whole as it demonstrates the potential of investing in low carbon fuels to drive decarbonization. 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 of the end of 2024, Kellanova achieved a reduction of 54% in Europe for its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, putting it well on track towards its commitment of a 63% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions across its European operations by the end of 2030.
“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,” Bistiaux continued.
David Parkin, chair of the HyNet Alliance, said: “It’s been fantastic to see the results of this demonstration and to see the positive impact investment in hydrogen could have for industry, society and the planet. Having businesses like Kellogg’s [Kellanova] taking part has been hugely valuable in paving the way for other food manufacturers to explore low carbon fuel, think about their own decarbonization roadmap, and help to make a critical contribution to the UK’s journey to Net Zero carbon emissions.”
