HEINEKEN UK cuts Manchester Brewery carbon emissions intensity by 42% after £28.2m heat pump investment

• HEINEKEN UK is marking a major step forward in its sustainability journey and the decarbonisation of beer production following a £28.2 million investment in its Manchester Brewery
• The large-scale industrial heat pump technology has led to a 33% reduction in on-site natural gas consumption, contributing to a 42% reduction in CO₂ emissions^[1].
• The project is the latest example of HEINEKEN’s continued progress against its global Brew a Better World sustainability strategy, supporting the company’s long-term decarbonisation ambitions.

HEINEKEN UK’s Manchester Brewery has recorded a 42% reduction in CO₂ emissions intensity after investing £28.2 million in large-scale heat pump technology driven by cutting natural gas consumption by a third*. The reduction reflects the latest measured results since the system was commissioned last year, after installation work first began back in 2023.

The heat pump network is now fully embedded across the site, significantly reducing the brewery’s reliance on natural gas for on-site heating and transforming how energy is generated and used. Through reducing natural gas use, the project is helping to reduce the brewery’s reliance on fossil fuels and strengthen its resilience against energy market volatility.

Manchester is home to HEINEKEN’s largest UK brewery, where it brews 2.5m pints a day of household favourites including Foster’s, Cruzcampo^® and Heineken^®. The project is the first retrofit of its kind at this scale within HEINEKEN’s global operations. Funded by a combination of capital investment and a government grant, the installation has attracted strong interest from across the brewing and manufacturing industries, with HEINEKEN UK pioneering this use of heat pump technology to tackle the complex challenge of decarbonising beer production. The heat pump network was commissioned in June 2025, and the project has now entered a 12–18-month optimisation phase, with further efficiency gains expected as performance continues to be fine-tuned and scaled across operations.

The project has been supported by £3.7 million from the government’s Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), helping to accelerate the deployment of innovative technology aimed at reducing industrial emissions.

The results at Manchester contribute more widely to HEINEKEN’s global Brew A Better World sustainability strategy and their global ambition to reach Net Zero across the value chain by 2040.

Sonia Thimmiah, Corporate Affairs Director at HEINEKEN UK said: “Our Brew A Better World strategy is all about turning ambitions into actions. The progress we’ve made at Manchester shows how global brewers can decarbonise whilst showcasing the leadership role our industry can play in the transition to net zero.

“Private sector investment into decarbonisation initiatives is accelerated when supported by the public sector. It is through this collaborative approach with government that we can continue to drive innovation like we have in Manchester.

“With the right support in place, projects like HEINEKEN Manchester show that meaningful change is possible and that brewing can play a real role in accelerating a lower-carbon future.”

Chris Kerr, Supply Chai  n Director at HEINEKEN UK said “Decarbonising a brewery requires a combination of technology and skill, and is a complex challenge facing our industry. This project marks a step-change in how energy can be generated and used in our Manchester Brewery and has impacted every part of our operations from inception to launch. It has been transformational for one of the largest breweries in the UK. 

“Our team at Manchester are truly at the heart of this project and they have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this possible, adapting day-to-day while continuing to brew brilliant beer. Their support, drive and ability to continuously optimise the system to our specific requirements is what’s helping us decarbonise brewing while continuing to innovate at our historic brewery.

“We’re confident in the heat pumps’ continued positive performance with the installation already achieving on average 80% of the estimated on-site gas reduction. This is a blueprint not just for us at HEINEKEN UK, but for the wider brewing and manufacturing sectors, demonstrating how investment in low-carbon technology can deliver both environmental benefits and long-term operational resilience.”

HEINEKEN UK’s Manchester brewery employs over 240 people and brews around 2.5 million pints every day of some of the nation’s favourite beers, including Heineken^®, Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo^®, Foster’s, Amstel and Red Stripe. The brewery is an enduring symbol of Manchester’s industrial strength, innovation, and pride with the site celebrating 150 years of brewing in 2025.