Forterra’s hydrogen plans gain pipeline boost

Forterra’s work to decarbonise brickmaking is set to enter a new phase, as plans for the East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline — set to pass near the manufacturer’s Kirton brickworks — pave the way for an expansion of its hydrogen-fuel trials beyond its Measham factory.

The infrastructure boost comes after two years of successful testing, positioning Forterra to scale its low-carbon ambitions at a time of growing regional and national momentum around sustainability.

The East Coast Hydrogen Pipeline (ECHP), proposed during the East Midlands Hydrogen Summit, will connect major hydrogen production sites in North Nottinghamshire and the Humber to key energy-intensive manufacturers across the East Midlands, including areas close to Forterra’s Kirton brickworks, providing a potential future supply of low-carbon hydrogen to support trials like those already underway at Forterra’s Measham site.

Over the past two years Forterra has moved beyond its initial 20 per cent hydrogen blend, gathering extensive data on how hydrogen can decarbonise its brick-firing process without compromising product quality.

“Cutting our carbon emissions is central to our mission, but we need to make sure we’re not compromising on the quality of the products we’re producing,” says David Manley, head of sustainability at Forterra. “Hydrogen is emerging as the most effective option for reaching our long-term decarbonisation targets, ahead of alternatives such as electrification or biomass.”