Cement and waste-to-energy production are carbon-intensive and have no route to cut emissions without carbon capture. As the government moves towards net zero, Padeswood and Protos will deploy the latest technologies to remove 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
These are the first 2 anchor projects to join Eni’s Liverpool Bay Transportation & Storage network, part of the HyNet carbon capture cluster which received approval in April. As a key pillar of the modern Industrial Strategy, the government further backed carbon capture in June’s Spending Review with £9.4 billion over this Parliament.
The Government said the projects will serve as the launch-point for exporting British technology, innovation and expertise abroad, creating economic opportunities for UK-based companies across the world - boosting growth and giving British business a competitive edge in the global green economy.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said, "Our clean energy mission means good jobs, regional growth, and investment for local communities. These trailblazing projects showcase North Wales and the North West’s workforce on the global stage – leading the charge in the clean industries of the future and powering Britain’s reindustrialisation."
HyNet is a network of new and repurposed infrastructure, such as pipelines, spanning North Wales and the North West which will capture carbon emissions and store them safely underground.
Both projects have now signed contracts with the Low Carbon Contracts Company, marking their final investment decisions. With this milestone reached, projects are expected to move into the construction phase shortly. The projects directly support 500 skilled jobs, as part of the 2,800 jobs across the wider HyNet network.
Padeswood and Protos carbon capture projects also provide long-term job security for workers in the cement and waste industries by providing a crucial route to decarbonisation for the sectors, preserving these proud British industries as we reach net zero.
Simon Willis, CEO of Heidelberg Materials UK, said, "Our constructive partnership with the UK government has allowed us to reach this major milestone, which is fantastic news, not just for us, but for the industry as a whole."
"Our new facility at Padeswood will be a world-leader. It will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO2 a year from our existing cement works, allowing us to produce evoZero net zero cement, which will help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonisation aims."
"CCS is a growing sector worldwide and our Padeswood project is an exemplar, helping position the UK as a global force at the forefront of this technology. It will also pave the way to decarbonising our domestic cement industry, helping it remain competitive while mitigating against climate change."
Padeswood will capture around 800,000 CO2 emissions annually and Protos will capture 400,000 – taking the total to 1.2 million a year.
Mark Burrows-Smith, Chief Executive of Encyclis said, "We have secured a once-in-a-generation opportunity to begin decarbonising waste treatment in the UK."
"This first full-scale carbon capture deployment in the UK enables us to continue providing an essential treatment service for non-recyclable waste while reducing carbon emissions, creating new skilled jobs and clearing a pathway for wider adoption across the industry."
"We are not only building a carbon capture plant but setting the foundations for a new era of industry transformation which helps the UK achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets and manage its resources more efficiently."
The Carbon Capture & Storage Association (CCSA) welcomed the news, but said this must be only the beginning and to decarbonise industries and remain competitive internationally, the UK needs to rapidly deploy a much wider pipeline of CCUS projects across multiple sectors and regions.
Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said, “Heidelberg Materials’ Padeswood and Encyclis’ Protos Energy Recovery Facility reach landmark moments in the global leadership of the UK’s industrial decarbonisation.”
“Cement and energy from waste are two of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise, yet they are fundamental to our economy and way of life – from building new homes and vital infrastructure to managing society’s unrecyclable waste and providing reliable low carbon power."
“These world-leading projects show how carbon capture can provide credible, scalable pathways to net zero, securing the future of essential UK industries and keeping businesses competitive in global markets. By capturing CO2 and transporting it via the HyNet network to Eni’s permanent storage in Liverpool Bay, these projects will cut emissions, support 500 skilled jobs, decarbonise essential waste treatment infrastructure and kickstart the UK’s new low carbon cement market, driving economic growth in local communities.”
The Mineral Products Association (MPA), the cement and concrete trade body, also welcomed the announcement which it said will help decarbonise the sector.
Dr Diana Casey, Executive Director for Energy and Climate Change, Cement and Lime at the MPA, said, “The green light for the UK’s first carbon capture-enabled cement plant at Padeswood is a landmark step on the road to decarbonising our domestic cement industry – it will safeguard existing skilled jobs and create new opportunities too."
“Public investment in this project provides a strong vote of confidence in the technology and recognises the vital role cement plays in supporting economic growth while delivering on the transition to net zero. Decarbonising heavy industry is not only essential for meeting climate goals, but also for securing the future of communities across the country – today’s announcement delivers on both.”
Offshore Energies UK said the construction of two major projects to capture carbon from cement production and waste incineration are a critical milestone in the nation’s emissions reduction journey.
Enrique Cornejo, head of policy at Offshore Energies UK, said, "This is a critical milestone which can prevent greenhouse gas from industrial processes from entering the atmosphere by allowing businesses to connect to carbon dioxide storage and transport systems."
"It shows the essential role of carbon capture and storage for businesses such as cement production and energy from waste schemes which burn household rubbish to generate power. It also protects thousands of jobs in the UK’s industrial heartlands."
"Projects like these are possible thanks to the infrastructure, skills, people, and investment of our integrated offshore energy sector and this is only the beginning."
"The full carbon capture and storage project pipeline must be constructed for us to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets. That means securing funding for final investment in the so-called Track 2 clusters around the Humber and North East Scotland, before the end of this Parliament."
"It also means creating a viable route to market for other carbon capture projects outside the cluster sequencing process. Industry is ready to deliver, but a clear delivery framework is essential to unlock the full potential of carbon capture and storage in the UK."