- Heidelberg Materials’ Padeswood cement works and Encyclis’ Protos Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) sign final contracts with UK Government to begin construction.
- World-leading projects will decarbonise two of the most critical, and hardest to decarbonise industries – energy from waste and cement – while creating new skilled jobs, low carbon products and driving investment into industrial regions.
- CCSA calls on UK Government to continue this progress across the CCUS industry, to build a self-sustaining UK market that delivers decarbonised products and economic growth.
[London, 25 September] The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) today welcomed the fantastic announcement that Encyclis and Heidelberg Materials have signed final contracts with UK Government to begin construction.
These announcements represent significant milestones for two of the UK’s hardest-to-abate sectors – energy from waste and cement – both of which play a vital role in delivering a low carbon economy.
Encyclis’ Protos ERF project will capture CO₂ emissions from unrecyclable waste and transport them via the HyNet CO₂ pipeline for permanent storage in Eni’s Liverpool Bay store. This will mean household and business waste that cannot be recycled is turned into reliable, low carbon power, while simultaneously cutting emissions and supporting local job creation.
Heidelberg Materials’ Padeswood cement facility will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year from its existing cement works, producing net zero cement. This will enable the decarbonisation of one of the UK’s most essential and carbon intensive building materials, used in everyday life from homes and hospitals to football stadiums and infrastructure.
Together, these projects will support 500 jobs during construction and operation, providing new opportunities in engineering, construction, operations and the wider supply chain. They will anchor investment in industrial heartlands and create a platform for the UK to lead in low carbon industrial technologies.
But this must be only the beginning. To decarbonise our industries and remain competitive internationally, the UK needs to rapidly deploy a much wider pipeline of CCUS projects across multiple sectors and regions.
The CCSA will continue to work constructively with Government to ensure that CCUS remains a priority and moves towards a self-sustaining market that delivers industrial decarbonisation, creates skilled jobs, and drives long-term economic prosperity.
Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:
“Heidelberg Materials’ Padeswood and Encyclis’ Protos Energy Recovery Facility reach landmark moments in the global leadership of the UK’s industrial decarbonisation.”
“Cement and energy from waste are two of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise, yet they are fundamental to our economy and way of life – from building new homes and vital infrastructure to managing society’s unrecyclable waste and providing reliable low carbon power.
“These world-leading projects show how carbon capture can provide credible, scalable pathways to net zero, securing the future of essential UK industries and keeping businesses competitive in global markets. By capturing CO₂ and transporting it via the HyNet network to Eni’s permanent storage in Liverpool Bay, these projects will cut emissions, support 500 skilled jobs, decarbonise essential waste treatment infrastructure and kickstart the UK’s new low carbon cement market, driving economic growth in local communities.”
Mark Burrows-Smith, Encyclis Chief Executive, said:
“We have secured a once-in-a-generation opportunity to begin decarbonising waste treatment in the UK. This first full-scale carbon capture deployment in the UK enables us to continue providing an essential treatment service for non-recyclable waste while reducing carbon emissions, creating new skilled jobs and clearing a pathway for wider adoption across the industry.”
“We are not only building a carbon capture plant but setting the foundations for a new era of industry transformation which helps the UK achieve its greenhouse gas reduction targets and manage its resources more efficiently.”
Simon Willis, CEO 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 net zero cement, which will help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonisation aims.”
“CCS is a growing sector worldwide and our Padeswood project is an exemplar, helping position the UK as a global force at the forefront of this technology. It will also pave the way to decarbonising our domestic cement industry, helping it remain competitive while mitigating against climate change.”
Notes to Editor
- You can watch the Channel 4 News piece on today’s announcement on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYEqy6KoGS8
- Interview requests: To interview Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, please contact sara.price@ccsassociation.org
- For a briefing call on CCUS, please contact Sara Price on 07825235313 / sara.price@ccsassociation.org
- Press Pack: An FAQ, infographics and an animation accompany the press release for use. Download the press pack here though the CCSA website.
About the CCSA
CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting the UK’s statutory Net Zero target at least cost. CCUS enables industrial decarbonisation as well as the production of clean power, clean products (such as cement and chemicals) and clean hydrogen – which can also be used to decarbonise industry. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).
The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in the UK and Belgium. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.
The CCSA currently has over 120 member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO2 transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users in the power, industry, waste management, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.
FAQ’S and MythBusters
Isn’t CCUS just an excuse for polluting industries to carry on as usual?
CCUS is essential for decarbonising sectors like cement, energy from waste, refining, and chemicals — where emissions are unavoidable. It is recognised by the Climate Change Committee as a critical part of achieving net zero, not a substitute for emissions reduction.
Isn’t CCUS too expensive compared to renewables?
Independent bodies including the National Audit Office have confirmed that the cost of deploying CCUS is lower than the cost of failing to meet climate targets. It also reduces the cost of the transition by supporting system flexibility.
Isn’t CCUS unproven and risky?
CCUS has been operating safely for decades. Projects like Sleipner and Northern Lights in Norway have stored CO₂ securely for over 25 years. Today, over 50 commercial-scale facilities are operating worldwide.
Won’t CCUS delay investment in other clean technologies?
CCUS is complementary to technologies like renewables and hydrogen. The UK needs flexible low-carbon power to ensure security of supply — including CCUS-enabled power and hydrogen-to-power.
Why should the public subsidise CCUS projects?
Support is structured to deliver value for money. For example, funding is only released once projects reach agreed milestones. At full scale, the programme equates to around 28p per person per week, with gainshare mechanisms in place to return value to the taxpayer.
Why is there delay in the UK CCUS rollout?
CCUS projects are ready. The infrastructure, investment, and workforce are in place — but timely policy decisions are needed to unlock further progress. Delay risks missing net zero targets and losing industrial competitiveness.
Can’t we just use nature-based solutions instead?
Nature-based solutions are important, but they won’t be enough on their own. Engineered removals, including BECCS and EfW with CCS, are essential to reach UK climate targets — starting from 5 MtCO₂/year by 2030.
Is there really a market for captured carbon?
Demand for high-quality carbon removals is growing — with nearly 10 million tonnes of removal credits sold globally to date. The UK is well placed to lead in this emerging global market.
Does the UK have the infrastructure to scale CCUS?
Yes — the UK has world-class geology for CO₂ storage and a growing pipeline of projects across multiple clusters. With the right policy framework, these can deliver significant volumes of CO₂ capture by 2030 and beyond.
Isn’t the UK falling behind on CCUS?
Other countries are moving quickly, but the UK has the opportunity to lead. We have the storage capacity, industrial base, and skilled workforce. Accelerating deployment now is critical to securing this competitive advantage.