Construction of the UK’s first full-scale carbon capture plant for Energy-from-Waste has entered a major new phase at Encyclis’ Protos project in Cheshire, marking a significant step in reducing industrial emissions and supporting the transition to net zero.
The carbon capture facility, located near Ellesmere Port, is expected to be completed in 2029.
Once operational, it will prevent around 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year from entering the atmosphere from the adjoining Protos Energy Recovery Facility.
Captured CO2 will be transported through pipeline infrastructure to Liverpool Bay for permanent subsea storage.
The project is expected to provide a blueprint for decarbonising Energy-from-Waste and other hard-to-abate industrial sectors.
Encyclis’ engineering, procurement and construction contractor, Kanadevia Inova, has completed enabling works on the 4.4-acre site. Construction teams are now progressing with piling operations to prepare foundations for the large-scale carbon capture infrastructure.
The development supports wider efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to process residual waste and generate electricity. Protos ERF is currently in the final stages of commissioning and will process up to 500,000 tonnes of non-recycled waste annually while generating 49.9MW of baseload electricity.
The site will also recover reusable materials including metals and aggregates, supporting circular economy goals and reducing landfill dependence.
The project is also expected to support up to 500 skilled jobs and strengthen regional supply chains as the UK expands carbon capture technology.
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