Kellogg’s fuels your breakfast with hydrogen

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A KELLOGG’S factory has successfully demonstrated that hydrogen fuel can be used to toast cereals.

The company was awarded a £3m (US$3.9m) grant by the UK government to test whether the toasting oven at its cereal manufacturing plant in Manchester can switch out natural gas for clean-burning hydrogen.

Kellogg’s says the three-week demonstration successfully produced Bran Flakes, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies and Special K.

The government funded the trial to show that high grade heat can be produced without natural gas and without having to make fundamental changes to the production process.

Kellogg’s says it is the first company in the UK to produce cereal in this way, and that the demonstration has given its staff an opportunity to increase their skills.

Sam Bistiaux, vice-president of manufacturing, said: “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 a whole as it demonstrates the potential of investing in low carbon fuels to drive decarbonisation.”

The company has a target to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 63% across is European operations by the end of 2030.

The plant is one of a number in the northwest of England and North Wales that could use hydrogen from the region’s government-backed HyNet carbon capture and hydrogen production cluster. Others include Pilkington, which has trialled using hydrogen for heat during glass making, and Unilever making laundry detergent and shampoo.

David Parkin, chair of the HyNet Alliance, said: “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.”

Other food and drinks producers listed as HyNet supporters include Heineken, KraftHeinz, and PepsiCo.