Heidelberg’s Padeswood Plant to Capture 800,000 Tonnes CO₂

Heidelberg Materials has been given the go-ahead to build a state-of-the-art carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant at its Padeswood cement works in Flintshire, north Wales. The project is a significant step towards decarbonising one of the UK's most polluting industries. When it opens in 2029, the plant will be capable of capturing as much as 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per year, making a valuable contribution to the UK's overall climate ambitions.

Production of cement now represents around 1.5% of the UK's overall carbon emissions, primarily because of the chemical processes inherent in the process that cannot be overcome by the use of renewable energy alone. The new CCS plant seeks to overcome this issue by capturing the emissions at source and shipping them through the HyNet North West pipeline for permanent storage under Liverpool Bay. This linking with the UK's expanding CCS infrastructure, including HyNet and the East Coast Cluster, shows a coordinated national approach to addressing industrial emissions.

The CO₂ captured will be stored securely and permanently, minimizing the environmental footprint of cement production and allowing Heidelberg to produce its groundbreaking "evoZero" cement—a product with near-zero emissions. This green material is set to be a key driver in enabling the low-carbon construction economy, especially in the construction of critical infrastructure like offshore wind farms and green transport networks.

This is great news and a significant step forward for our Padeswood CCS project," added Simon Willis, CEO of Heidelberg Materials UK. "Cement is critical to the UK's net zero transition. It is at the heart of building everything from new offshore wind farms to low carbon infrastructure, and the thousands of green jobs that these projects will bring.

In addition to its environmental value, the project will also make a significant economic contribution. During construction, it is anticipated to create approximately 500 jobs, with a further 50 permanent positions created when the facility is up and running. This highlights the twin aim of driving the UK's net-zero agenda while promoting local employment and economic development.

The UK government has consistently shown strong backing for CCS as a fundamental part of its climate strategy. In 2024, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated the nation's commitment to supporting CCS projects, including backing significant infrastructure such as HyNet and the East Coast Cluster. Such ventures form the linchpin of the government's strategy to seize 20 to 30 million tonnes of CO₂ per annum by 2030, hoping to double the target to 50 million tonnes by 2050. The Padeswood venture by Heidelberg is just one of the earliest concrete milestones toward meeting those ambitious objectives and serves to showcase the role being played by the private sector to drive national climate ambition.

Though CCS technology has had its share of criticism—with some opposing that it might otherwise hinder a large-scale transition towards cleaner alternatives—preeminent climate regulators like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) continue to recommend its contribution towards industrial emission reduction. For industries such as cement production, where process emissions cannot be eliminated, CCS is viewed universally as a necessity.

Heidelberg Materials has been at the forefront of advancing CCS technology. Since 2019, the company has collaborated with Norwegian energy giant Equinor to explore and implement CCS solutions throughout its value chain. This long-term partnership reflects Heidelberg’s alignment with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target and its vision for achieving carbon-neutral concrete by mid-century.

The Padeswood CCS project is an example of how industrial decarbonisation can be economically and environmentally positive. Through the combination of emission reduction with employment creation, the project leads the way for future low-carbon industrial transitions. As the UK presses on towards net zero, projects like Heidelberg's are a reminder that ambitious climate action and economic growth can coexist.

The approval of this plant is not merely a milestone for Heidelberg Materials; it is a signpost for a larger change in the way old industries can adapt to respond to the urgent imperatives of climate change. Through collaboration, innovation, and investment in infrastructure, the cement industry is being transformed for a cleaner future—one captured tonne of carbon at a time.