Singleton Birch, a subsidiary of MLC, has reached a significant funding milestone in its partnership with Centrica Energy Storage Ltd to produce hydrogen fuel for low-carbon lime at its North Lincolnshire facility. The project has been shortlisted for funding under the United Kingdom’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2) program, led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
MLC is a global provider of lime-based products and technical solutions. Together with Singleton Birch, the company is advancing shared investment strategies aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of lime production — a critical material used across multiple industries.
“The U.K. funding supports our own investment and moves us closer to achieving our vision,” said Fiona Woody, MLC’s director of ESG and sustainability. “This project helps cut carbon emissions, lowers our dependence on natural gas and secures a stable source of green energy. We’re also evaluating whether it can be replicated across our other operations.”
Centrica is set to build the hydrogen production plant at Singleton Birch’s site, with commissioning expected in 2028. The facility will use electrolysis to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, supplying 20% of the energy needed to operate the company’s lime kilns and significantly reducing its natural gas use.
The HAR2 initiative aims to accelerate the development of low-carbon hydrogen production across the country. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, hydrogen investment is critical to achieving net-zero emissions, stimulating economic growth, enhancing energy security, and creating new jobs.
“Achieving carbon neutrality requires more than internal action — we need new technology, supportive legislation and the right infrastructure,” said Edward Arnott, technical director at Singleton Birch. “This partnership with Centrica and the government’s backing will help us deliver on our sustainability commitments.”
In recent years, MLC has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in initiatives to cut emissions, reduce energy use and waste, and improve fuel flexibility and efficiency. At Singleton Birch, the company is also developing an eco-park to rehabilitate previously quarried land, which will host the upcoming hydrogen facility.
The site’s three anaerobic digesters have been upgraded to generate renewable, bio-based energy that powers the company’s operations and supports the local grid.
Looking ahead, Woody noted that MLC is exploring carbon capture technologies. One of its U.S.-based projects has already been selected for negotiations by the U.S. Department of Energy, potentially offering insights that could be applied globally.
