Janinhoff brickmakers bet on green hydrogen: Is their 'baby' project set for growth?

In Münster, Germany, the Janinhoff Klinkermanufaktur is embarking on a bold transition, aiming to integrate green hydrogen into its brick production process. Located within a 140-meter-long brick tunnel kiln that maintains temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius even on cool days, the company is preparing to blend the future with the present.

Currently, natural gas fuels the kilns' burners. However, by the close of the year, Janinhoff intends to commence a major overhaul. This renovation will involve installing pipelines for green hydrogen in parallel with the existing gas infrastructure. The move towards hydrogen signals a commitment to advanced, sustainable, and future-oriented manufacturing practices.

This ambitious project is described by the company's leadership as their "baby." Caroline Foyer-Clitheroe, 42, and her husband Stephen Clitheroe, 45, are at the helm, leading the family business founded in 1907. As the fourth generation poised to take full control, they are making a significant bet on this new technology, potentially shaping the company's future for decades to come.

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They call the project their 'baby.' Is something big growing out of it?