Grupo Bimbo Trials Hydrogen Baking in Portugal for Net-Zero Strategy
Grupo Bimbo's 2025 trial in Portugal retrofitted a 1998 tunnel oven to operate on 100% hydrogen, contributing to its net-zero emissions goal by 2050. The success of this trial highlights a potential pathway for industrial bakers to transition away from natural gas without major infrastructure overhauls.

In a two-week trial ending in October 2025, Grupo Bimbo retrofitted a 1998 tunnel oven in Portugal to operate with hydrogen, successfully maintaining bread quality. This is part of Bimbo's commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, which includes a 50% reduction in Scope 1 emissions and a 28% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030.
The trial demonstrated that existing industrial ovens can be adapted to lower-carbon energy sources, potentially aiding the industry's decarbonization efforts. Bimbo's broader strategy incorporates regenerative agriculture and renewable electricity. The viability of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source remains contingent on production methods and cost, as well as competition from electrification and other technologies.




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