A contract has been awarded for the front-end engineering and design (FEED) of the UK’s first carbon capture cement production site.

Professional services company Worley in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has been selected to undertake the project by Heidelberg Materials UK, a leading integrated manufacturer of building materials and solutions. 

The project will support the development of a ground breaking carbon capture facility at Heidelberg Materials’ cement works at Padeswood, North Wales, marking the first of its kind in the UK.

The partners have worked together collaboratively on several carbon capture projects and previously completed a pre-FEED project for Padeswood. 

The FEED project stage will support Heidelberg Materials with securing UK government approval, achieving a positive final investment decision and enabling the EPC stage to commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Marino Barbi, Worley’s senior vice president UK, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Heidelberg Materials UK for their Padeswood CCS FEED project. 

“Securing this contract is not only testament of the strength of our relationships with Heidelberg Materials UK and MHI but also reflects our execution of the pre-FEED and our team’s expertise in delivering FEED services for first of a kind CCUS facilities.

“Padeswood is a landmark project in the UK’s decarbonisation strategy and aligns with our commitment to contributing to a more sustainable world.” 

Cement is an essential building material for global construction, but its production is highly carbon intensive, and not easily abatable by low CO2 or renewable energy sources. This means carbon capture and storage is key for reducing these emissions.

Simon Willis, CEO Heidelberg Materials UK, said: “This is a decisive next step in our plans to install carbon capture technology at our Padeswood cement works. 

“Once operational, it will provide net zero building materials for major projects across the country, enabling us to help decarbonise the construction industry and meet our ambition to become a net zero business.”

The Padeswood project has been selected as a Track 1 capture project by the UK government and is a key establishing project within the HyNet industrial cluster. 

Once operational, it is anticipated to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of CO2  annually, the equivalent of taking 320,000 cars off the road and will play a crucial role in the decarbonisation efforts of the UK cement industry. 

Worley’s team will carry out the work through its local teams based in London, Manchester, Aberdeen and Glasgow supported by Worley’s broader global team of carbon capture experts.