Two carbon capture projects in North Wales and the North West have received final government approval, securing 500 skilled jobs and marking a major milestone for the UK’s net zero ambitions.
Heidelberg Materials will build the UK’s first carbon capture-enabled cement plant at Padeswood in Flintshire, while Encyclis will develop a carbon capture facility at its Protos waste-to-energy plant in Ellesmere Port.
Both have signed contracts with the Low Carbon Contracts Company and are ready to begin construction.
The projects will remove 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 annually and form part of the HyNet carbon capture cluster, using Eni’s Liverpool Bay transport and storage network.
Cement and waste-to-energy are hard-to-abate sectors with few emission reduction options outside carbon capture.
These sites are the first two anchor projects within the HyNet cluster, backed by £9.4 billion in government funding.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “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.”
Simon Willis, CEO of Heidelberg Materials UK, said: “Our new facility at Padeswood will be a world leader. It will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO2 a year and help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonisation aims.”
Mark Burrows-Smith, CEO of Encyclis, added: “This first full-scale carbon capture deployment in the UK enables us to treat waste while reducing emissions and creating skilled jobs.”
Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales, said: “It’s fantastic to see North Wales at the forefront of carbon capture. These projects will help drive regional growth and accelerate our drive towards lower bills and energy security.”
With construction set to begin soon, the projects represent a critical step in decarbonising industry while preserving long-term employment in cement and waste sectors.
