Heidelberg Materials completes UK’s first hydrogen-fuelled asphalt production

The pioneering project is part of the company’s commitment to decarbonise its production processes and has been three years in the making.

The Criggion trial is part of the UK government’s Industrial Hydrogen Accelerator programme and received part-funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

During the trial, hydrogen was used to replace liquid fossil fuels to produce more than 1,300 tonnes of asphalt, without any impact on the quality or performance of the material, according to Heidelberg Materials UK.

The project demonstrated hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels in asphalt production, achieving a 76% reduction in Scope 1 (direct) emissions equating to a 23% reduction in the overall carbon footprint of the asphalt produced.

Simon Willis, Heidelberg Materials UK chief executive, said: “If we are to reach our net zero ambitions, we need to consider carbon reduction measures across all areas of our operations.

“Fuel switching to hydrogen is one of these along with, for example, the development of carbon capture and storage, the use of alternative and secondary materials, and developing circular solutions.

“Hydrogen will be a vital solution to decarbonise heavy industry where electrification is difficult and this successful demonstration of its potential to produce low carbon asphalt for the construction industry is a major step forward.”

In total, 4,522kg of hydrogen was used during the trial at Criggion, saving 25,105kg of CO₂. Heidelberg Materials UK estimates that, if scaled across the UK asphalt industry, savings could reach 450,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year.

Heidelberg Materials is a member of Made with Hydrogen, a consortium of building materials manufacturers. The group is promoting hydrogen as a future energy solution to help reach net zero by 2050 and is calling for greater clarity on the pathway for hydrogen’s role in British industry to maintain a thriving UK manufacturing base.