Protium is to develop a green hydrogen energy production facility in partnership with Budweiser’s brewery at its Lancashire site in north-west England.
The project supports the region’s wider net zero ambitions.
South Ribble Borough Council and Lancashire County Council both have an ambition for their own operations and activities to be carbon neutral by 2030, and the UK is working towards a 2050 net zero target.
The Samlesbury Net Zero project, coupled with other initiatives, aims to help Budweiser Brewing Group’s facility meet its thermal demand, heating and transport needs through green hydrogen energy.
As well as reducing the brewery’s carbon emissions, it will lead to cleaner air and reduced vehicle noise with heavy goods vehicles also being powered by hydrogen.
The new development would be built next to the brewery, which lies just off the A59 between Preston and Blackburn.
The facility (the electrolyser, associated plant and refuelling station) would cover an area similar in size to one and a half full-size football pitches.
Under the plans, Protium would fund, build, and operate the site for the brewery and is targeting the end of 2025 for it to be operational.
A planning application for the project will be submitted in the coming spring following consultation with neighbours, the community, and other local stakeholders.
In 2021, Budweiser and Protium announced plans to explore the deployment of green hydrogen at Magor brewery in South Wales (pictured), one of the largest breweries in the UK.
Luiz Brandao, head of procurement and sustainability at Budweiser Brewing Group, said: “Sustainability is core to our business as we work towards net zero ambitions.
“Innovative solutions like hydrogen have huge potential for reducing our carbon footprint in the UK and moving us towards our ambitious sustainability goals.”
As part of the project, Budweiser Brewing Group would also make the change to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles which have the potential to improve local air quality and reduce vehicle noise.
Chris Jackson, chief executive of Protium, added: “Samlesbury Net Zero is an investment in our environment, community, economy and our future.
“We’re thrilled to announce our intentions to deliver this major investment into green hydrogen energy in Lancashire.
“Working with the local community will be at the heart of this project.
“We want to use the local supply chain where possible and engage with the education and business communities to provide upskilling opportunities for the region in green hydrogen energy production.“Removing carbon emissions from sectors like manufacturing is one of the biggest challenges we face in reaching net zero.
“Green hydrogen is the hugely exciting next step in global energy transition, happening right here in Lancashire, to drive down these emissions and futureproof our vital industries.”