The Kraft Heinz Co., perhaps best known for its macaroni and cheese as well as ketchup, partnered with Carlton Power to study development of a green hydrogen plant in the U.K., according to a Feb. 5 news release.

Located at Kraft Heinz’s Kitt Green manufacturing plant in Wigan, Greater Manchester, the proposed $50.1 million plant will have a 20-megawatt capacity—enough to meet more than half of the plant’s annual natural gas demand, the company said. The hydrogen plant, powered by solar and wind energy, will be Kraft Heinz’s first globally. The move is expected to lower the plant’s carbon emissions by 16,000 tons per year.

“Our agreement with Carlton Power is an important step forward in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and achieve our global goal of net zero emissions by 2050, with a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2030,” said Jojo Lins De Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz’s Northern Europe region. “We’re excited to partner together to develop our first, renewable hydrogen energy project globally and hope to see more projects like these in the future.”

The facility will become the fifth green hydrogen project in the U.K. for Carlton Power.

“It is critical that projects like this are brought forward to support British companies, especially in manufacturing, in reducing their carbon emissions and reaching Net Zero,” said Eric Adams, hydrogen projects director at Carlton Power.

If plans are approved and financing secured, the Carlton/Kraft Heinz renewable hydrogen scheme is earmarked to enter operations in 2026, according to the release. Its construction is contingent on securing financial support from the U.K. Government’s second Hydrogen Allocation Round of the Hydrogen Production Business Model.

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