Heidelberg Materials, formerly Hanson UK, is building the world’s first carbon capture facility to enable fully decarbonised cement production in north Wales.
Construction at its Padeswood cement works is due to commence later this year and will enable production of net zero cement in 2029.
Simon Willis, chief executive at 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 carbon captured net zero cement, which will help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonisation aims.
Cement production gives rise to CO2 and the only way to remove it and produce net zero cement is to capture it using carbon capture and storage (CCS) before it enters the atmosphere.
Heidelberg’s CCS facility at Padeswood is designed to capture around 95% of the CO2 emissions from the process and it will be compressed and transported via an underground pipeline for storage under the seabed in Liverpool Bay as part of the HyNet North West project.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Our clean-energy mission means good jobs, regional growth, and investment for local communities.
“This trailblazing cement works showcases the north Wales workforce on the global stage – leading the charge in the clean industries of the future and powering Britain’s reindustrialisation through this UK-first project.”
