Construction of the UK ’s first full-scale carbon capture facility integrated with a waste-to-energy plant has moved into a major new phase at Encyclis’ Protos project in Cheshire.
Located near Ellesmere Port, the carbon capture plant is expected to be completed in 2029 and will capture approximately 370,000 metric tons of CO2 annually from the adjacent Protos Energy Recovery Facility (ERF).
The project represents a significant milestone for UK industrial decarbonization efforts, demonstrating how carbon capture can be deployed at waste-to-energy facilities to reduce emissions from residual waste treatment while maintaining reliable energy generation. Captured CO2 will be transported via pipeline to Liverpool Bay for permanent offshore geological storage.
Creating a model for decarbonizing waste and industry
Engineering, procurement and construction contractor Kanadevia Inova has completed enabling works on the 4.4-acre site, with piling operations now underway to prepare foundations for the large-scale carbon capture infrastructure.
The carbon capture facility is being developed alongside the Protos Energy Recovery Facility, which is currently in the final stages of commissioning.
Once operational, the plant will process up to 500,000 tons of non-recyclable waste each year and generate 49.9 MW of baseload electricity.
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In addition to energy generation, the facility will recover reusable materials such as metals and aggregates, supporting circular economy objectives and reducing reliance on landfill disposal.
The project is also expected to deliver broader economic benefits, supporting up to 500 skilled jobs and strengthening regional supply chains as carbon capture technologies scale across the UK.
Developers believe the project could serve as a blueprint for deploying carbon capture at other waste-to-energy facilities and hard-to-abate industrial sectors, helping accelerate progress toward national net-zero targets.
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