April 2025 – Flintshire, Wales
Heidelberg Materials has secured planning approval to develop a landmark carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at its Padeswood cement plant in North Wales—a pivotal step in decarbonising the UK’s heavy industry. Backed by a £522 million investment, the project aims to begin operation in 2029, capturing up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Cementing Climate Action
Cement manufacturing is one of the UK’s most emissions-intensive sectors, responsible for approximately 1.5% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Because most emissions stem from the chemical reaction in cement production—not energy use—CCS has emerged as a critical mitigation tool, especially where renewable energy alone falls short.
“This is fantastic news and a huge step forward for our Padeswood CCS project,” said Simon Willis, CEO of Heidelberg Materials UK. “Cement is essential to the UK’s transition to net zero… and to thousands of green jobs.”
Once operational, the facility will produce “evoZero” — a near-zero emissions cement. The captured carbon will be transported via the HyNet North West pipeline and permanently stored under the Liverpool Bay seabed, part of the UK’s growing CCS infrastructure which also includes the East Coast Cluster.
Economic & Environmental Impact
The development is expected to create:
- 500 construction jobs
- 50 permanent roles post-completion
This aligns with the UK’s Net Zero Strategy, which aims to capture 20–30 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2030, scaling to 50 million tonnes by 2050, according to government projections.
The project also supports local and national industrial decarbonisation goals while reinforcing the UK’s broader ambitions under the Paris Agreement and its own 1.5°C pathway.
A Critical Role for CCS
Despite criticisms that carbon capture could slow the transition to alternative, greener materials, global scientific bodies including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) maintain CCS is essential for hard-to-abate industries.
Heidelberg Materials, in collaboration with energy company Equinor, has been exploring CCS solutions since 2019. The Padeswood project is among the first full-scale demonstrations of that work coming to fruition in the UK.
In 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed support for CCS development, citing its critical role in achieving net zero while safeguarding industrial competitiveness and jobs.
Looking Ahead
As global demand for low-carbon infrastructure accelerates, Heidelberg’s initiative represents not only a technological advance but also a model for public-private cooperation in addressing climate and employment challenges simultaneously.
📌 More information: Heidelberg Materials Official Website
Carbon Capture and Storage CCS Plant on Flickr by Climate Group CC BY NC SA 2.0 License
