A groundbreaking carbon capture facility (CCF) in Ellesmere Port, England, is poised to receive planning approval. The facility, located at the Protos energy hub, is designed to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions equivalent to nearly 200,000 cars per year.
The CCF will capture CO2 from the flue gasses emitted by an adjacent energy recovery facility (ERF) under construction.
If approved, it would be one of the first such facilities in the UK associated with an ERF, capturing some 380,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.
The captured CO2 emissions would then be transported via pipeline to an offshore storage site in Liverpool Bay.
A report to the local planning committee highlights the significant contribution this project would make to industrial decarbonization and achieving the country’s net zero emissions goals. The facility is expected to create jobs during construction and operation.
The CCF is part of a larger initiative to develop greener energy solutions in the region. The Protos energy hub, where the facility is located, aims to connect energy-intensive businesses with low-carbon energy sources.
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It is also a key component of the HyNet North West project, which involves producing and utilizing hydrogen and storing CO2, and received official government approval earlier this year.
Now awaiting the Final Investment Decision (FID) in September 2024, the Hynet North West pipeline project will be a crucial piece of infrastructure for capturing carbon emissions from industrial plants across northwest England and north Wales.
The project is led by Italian multinational energy company Eni.
Read more: Eni Gets Green Light for HyNet CO2 Pipeline Project
