Two flagship carbon capture projects in the UK have reached a critical milestone, with contracts signed and construction about to begin.
Together, they will safeguard 500 highly skilled clean energy jobs while marking a major step forward for the UK’s industrial decarbonisation strategy. The first project, Heidelberg Materials UK’s Padeswood plant in Flintshire, will become the nation’s inaugural cement facility fitted with full carbon capture capabilities.
At the same time, Encyclis will deliver one of the world’s first waste-to-energy plants integrated with carbon capture technology at its Protos site in Ellesmere Port.
Both facilities address emissions from sectors that have few viable alternatives to carbon capture, ensuring continued industrial activity while sharply reducing climate impact.
Cutting Emissions and Creating Long-Term Opportunities
Once operational, the two projects are expected to capture 1.2 million metric tons of CO2 each year. They will serve as anchor developments within HyNet, the UK’s pioneering carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) cluster centred around Eni’s Liverpool Bay Transportation & Storage network.
HyNet itself represents a broader vision of repurposed pipelines and storage infrastructure designed to support multiple industries in North Wales and the North West.
The government has committed £9.4 billion (~$12.6 billion) in funding over this Parliament to scale CCUS as part of its industrial strategy, backing projects like Padeswood and Protos as catalysts for regional regeneration.
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Officials highlighted the dual benefits of decarbonisation and job creation, with direct employment for 500 workers on these projects and thousands more supported across the wider HyNet ecosystem.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks called the developments “trailblazing,” noting that they position North Wales and the North West as leaders in the clean energy economy. Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the region’s role in delivering “the well-paid, highly skilled jobs of the future.”
Beyond emissions reductions, the projects are designed to protect the long-term competitiveness of the UK’s cement and waste sectors, preserving industries critical to both infrastructure and energy security.
By deploying proven carbon capture technologies at scale, Britain strengthens its standing as a clean energy leader while ensuring industrial resilience in a net-zero future.
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