West Sussex-based Michelmersh, the UK’s fourth-largest brick makers, are the focus for a project to create the world’s first hydrogen-fired clay bricks.
In total, the UK brick manufacturing industry produces 1.9 billion bricks a year (of which Michelmersh produces 125 million bricks) and emits over 1 million tonnes CO2 annually.
But if the trial is successful, replacing natural gas with hydrogen in the brick-firing process could cut emissions from the industry by 80%.
With £292,000 of government funding secured, the business is working with partners from Hydrogen Sussex to conduct a trial to test the viability of using hydrogen in the brick-making process instead of natural gas at Michelmersh’s site in Freshfield Lane, Danehill, near Haywards Heath.
The Hybrick study will use green electrolytic hydrogen – hydrogen that has been produced using renewable energy – in the innovative project.
See: Michelmersh website
Photos: Michelmersh – Hybrick Hydrogen Fired Clay Bricks – Freshfield Lane Selected Darks (credit and copyright Michelmersh)