Carbon capture plan for Protos ERF
A major leap forward has been announced in an industry-leading plan to develop the UK’s first energy-from-waste (EFW) facility with carbon capture.
Biffa's EFW partner Encyclis has signed a Statement of Principles with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to formalise commercial plans for the development of a carbon capture facility at the Protos Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) near Ellesmere Port, in Cheshire.
The announcement means Encyclis can progress into final negotiations with DESNZ, pushing forward its plans to construct a carbon capture plant capable of preventing around 350,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year – equivalent to taking around 200,000 cars off the road.
The carbon capture plant will serve Protos ERF, which is currently being constructed by joint owners Encyclis and Biffa.
Mick Davis, Biffa's Chief Operating Officer (Resources & Energy), said: "We are committed to helping our customers reduce their carbon emissions. As part owner and key supplier into Protos ERF, the development of carbon capture at the facility is an important part of that strategy. We are delighted to see the project moving forward into final negotiations.”
Learn more about Biffa's energy-from-waste capabilities.
Utilising the planned HyNet pipeline, the captured CO2 will be transported for storage in depleted gas fields in Liverpool Bay.
The announcement could enable the ERF to fulfil its essential public hygiene function by converting unrecyclable waste into baseload electricity and recovering resources for reuse, while going beyond net-zero by achieving negative emissions – which reduces the overall amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The Protos ERF carbon capture project, which forms part of the HyNet North West network, was selected in 2023 to progress under Track 1 of Government’s cluster sequencing programme.
Since then, Encyclis has been working closely with officials at DESNZ to determine the commercial and technical details of the project.
Encyclis CEO Owen Michaelson said: “The announcement of a Statement in Principle for this first EfW carbon capture plant represents a huge milestone for a project that we’re extremely proud to be driving forward with our partners. The progression of this project will be a big win for UK PLC and should help create significant competitive advantage for UK industry by delivering the knowhow, the IP and new supply chain opportunities in our industrial heartlands.”