Heidelberg Materials has taken the next big step towards building the UK’s first full-scale carbon capture plant at its Padeswood cement works after signing an EPCM deal with Worley and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The contract clears the way for full construction of a facility to strip out around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year and produce evoZero, the world’s first carbon-captured near-zero cement at commercial scale.
Under the EPCM agreement, Worley will lead delivery of the carbon capture facility, infrastructure integration and commissioning, while MHI provides its Advanced KM CDR Process technology.
Heidelberg Materials said the project will secure more than 200 existing jobs at the site and support up to 500 construction jobs as work peaks.
Construction will move into its next phase before the end of the year, with full operation targeted for 2029.
Chief executive Simon Willis said the Padeswood scheme represents a “major milestone” in the decarbonisation of one of the UK’s most challenging industrial sectors.”
Captured CO₂ will be compressed on site before being piped to secure storage beneath Liverpool Bay as part of the HyNet North West cluster, which aims to create the world’s first low-carbon industrial region through linked hydrogen and CCS networks.
Worley boss Chris Ashton said: “We’re proud to be working alongside Heidelberg Materials and MHI to deliver a facility that will help transform cement production and support the UK’s net zero ambitions.”
