Major carbon capture projects given go ahead

Two major carbon capture projects in North Wales and the North West of England are set to move into construction following the signing of final contracts with government. The schemes, which will support around 500 skilled jobs, mark a significant milestone in the UK’s efforts to decarbonise heavy industry while creating long-term opportunities for the construction supply chain.

The first project will see the UK’s inaugural carbon capture-enabled cement works developed at Heidelberg Materials’ Padeswood site in Flintshire. Alongside this, Encyclis will deliver one of the world’s first full-scale carbon capture-enabled waste-to-energy facilities at Protos in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Together, the facilities will capture an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, addressing emissions in two of the UK’s most carbon-intensive sectors.

Both projects are part of the HyNet carbon capture cluster, with Padeswood and Protos acting as anchor schemes within Eni’s Liverpool Bay Transportation and Storage network. HyNet combines new and repurposed infrastructure across North Wales and the North West to provide a long-term solution for capturing and safely storing emissions. Across the network, more than 2,800 jobs are expected to be created, with 500 directly linked to these two projects.

For the construction sector, the projects will require substantial civil engineering works, installation of new processing infrastructure, specialist mechanical and electrical systems, and integration with carbon transport pipelines. Contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in areas such as engineering design, fabrication, site management, health and safety, and commissioning will all be central to project delivery.

The government confirmed at the 2025 Spending Review an investment of £9.4 billion into carbon capture projects over this Parliament, aiming to revitalise industrial regions and provide a pathway to net zero. This funding underpins the contracts agreed with the Low Carbon Contracts Company, which has now enabled the projects to move from planning into the construction phase.

By embedding carbon capture into cement and waste-to-energy production, the Padeswood and Protos schemes will help safeguard the future of UK industries that cannot decarbonise through alternative methods. At the same time, they establish a platform for UK businesses to export expertise and technology internationally, strengthening Britain’s competitive position in the global clean energy market.

With construction now imminent, the projects represent a long-term pipeline of opportunities for the construction supply chain in one of the UK’s most strategically important industrial regions.

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