Two pioneering carbon capture projects in North Wales and Cheshire are set to begin construction after signing final contracts with the UK government — a move hailed as a major milestone for Britain’s green industrial ambitions. Together, the projects will capture more than a million tonnes of CO₂ each year and create hundreds of skilled jobs, while giving the UK a chance to demonstrate global leadership in carbon capture technology.
A Major Step for Heavy Industry
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has long been viewed as one of the few viable solutions for industries that are notoriously difficult to decarbonise, such as cement production and waste-to-energy facilities.
Now, two sites are set to become flagships for this technology. Heidelberg Materials will retrofit its cement plant in Padeswood, Flintshire, to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year. Meanwhile, Encyclis will build one of the world’s first full-scale carbon capture-enabled waste-to-energy plants at Protos in Ellesmere Port, designed to trap 400,000 tonnes of emissions annually.
Both projects will link into HyNet — the government-backed carbon capture cluster stretching across North Wales and North West England — which will transport CO₂ through pipelines and store it deep under the seabed in Liverpool Bay.
“This is a turning point,” said Simon Willis, chief executive of Heidelberg Materials UK. “For the first time, we’ll be able to produce net zero cement in Britain. That keeps our industry competitive, protects jobs, and helps the UK meet its climate targets.”
Jobs and Economic Growth
Beyond emissions reductions, the projects carry significant economic weight. Together, they are expected to directly support 500 jobs across construction, engineering, and safety. Thousands more roles will be supported indirectly through the HyNet network, which includes pipelines, storage sites, and related infrastructure.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks called the developments “a powerful example of how clean energy can deliver real jobs, growth and opportunity for local communities.”
The Padeswood cement works has long been a major employer in Flintshire, while the Protos energy hub in Ellesmere Port is part of a growing industrial cluster that local councils hope will attract further investment. For workers and suppliers in these regions, the projects offer a measure of security at a time when traditional heavy industry has faced repeated decline.
The Race to Net Zero
Carbon capture has its critics, with some campaigners arguing it risks giving fossil fuel industries a “licence to continue polluting”. But the UK government insists it is essential for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Cement production alone accounts for around 7% of global CO₂ emissions. Unlike power generation, where renewable alternatives are rapidly scaling up, the process of making cement produces emissions that cannot easily be eliminated. Similarly, waste-to-energy plants generate CO₂ from incinerating non-recyclable waste, leaving few alternatives for decarbonisation.
“These projects show carbon capture isn’t an optional extra — it’s a necessity if we’re serious about tackling climate change,” said Olivia Powis, chief executive of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association.
The two projects together are expected to remove 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂ a year. To put that in perspective, it is equivalent to taking around 600,000 cars off the road.
Billions in Government Support
The projects are part of a £9.4bn package of government funding for carbon capture announced in the June Spending Review, the largest single investment in CCS in the UK to date.
Officials argue that this level of support will not only help the UK meet its climate targets but also ensure domestic industries remain competitive in a world where low-carbon production is increasingly demanded by global markets.
Jo Stevens, the Secretary of State for Wales, said: “This investment is about more than climate targets. It’s about securing the future of industries that communities in Wales and the North West rely on.”
The government has positioned carbon capture as a key pillar of its modern Industrial Strategy, which aims to reindustrialise parts of Britain by turning them into hubs for green innovation.
A Global Race
The UK is not alone in pursuing CCS. The US and Norway have already developed large-scale carbon capture facilities, with Washington committing billions through its Inflation Reduction Act to boost the technology.
What makes the UK distinctive, supporters say, is its ability to combine industrial expertise, existing infrastructure such as depleted oil and gas fields, and political backing.
Mark Burrows-Smith, chief executive of Encyclis, described the Protos plant as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” that would place the UK “at the forefront of decarbonising waste treatment globally”.
Local Impact
In North Wales and Cheshire, the projects are being welcomed not just as climate solutions but as lifelines for local economies.
At the Padeswood cement plant, generations of families have worked in the industry. The prospect of producing net zero cement is seen by many as a way of preserving those jobs for decades to come.
“This is about securing the future of communities that have been built around these industries,” said one local councillor in Flintshire. “For too long, people here have felt left behind by economic change. Now we can be part of the future.”
For Ellesmere Port, the Protos project is the latest development in a town long associated with heavy industry, from oil refining to car manufacturing. Campaigners hope the carbon capture facility will signal a shift towards cleaner growth.
Concerns and Challenges
While the contracts mark a significant step forward, challenges remain.
Carbon capture technology is expensive, and critics argue that the billions invested could be better spent on renewables or energy efficiency. The government has countered that some industries cannot decarbonise without it, making CCS a critical complement to other green investments.
There are also technical hurdles. Large-scale CCS projects have been delayed or cancelled in other countries due to cost overruns or difficulties in transporting and storing CO₂. The UK government says it has learned from those experiences and designed HyNet to be both scalable and commercially viable.
Environmental groups remain cautious. Friends of the Earth has previously warned that CCS risks being treated as a “silver bullet” when deeper changes to industrial systems and consumption patterns are also needed.
A Turning Point
For now, though, the signing of contracts at Padeswood and Protos represents one of the clearest signals yet that carbon capture is moving from theory to reality in the UK.
Construction is expected to begin soon, with both projects seen as “anchor sites” for the HyNet cluster. If successful, they could pave the way for further investment across the country, from Teesside to Scotland.
As Simon Willis of Heidelberg Materials put it: “This isn’t just about one plant or one company. It’s about showing that British industry can lead the world in cutting emissions while protecting jobs. That’s the opportunity we now have.”
