Heidelberg Materials and the UK Government have finalized a funding agreement to develop the world's first carbon capture facility, enabling fully decarbonized cement production at the Padeswood plant in North Wales. The project is the second industrial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative in the cement industry to reach Final Investment Decision (FID).

The Padeswood CCS project is entering the execution phase following the successful completion of the funding agreement with the UK Government, which was announced on 25 September 2025. Construction of the carbon capture facility will start later this year, with commissioning foreseen in 2029.

Project Specifications and Capacity

The Padeswood facility is designed to capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, equaling nearly all of the plant's CO₂ emissions. This makes it the world's first cement plant with a fully decarbonised cement production process. The facility will capture almost all CO₂ emissions from both the kiln and the combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Following the recent opening of the Brevik CCS facility with 50% capture capacity, Padeswood CCS will be Heidelberg Materials' second facility, enabling the production of evoZero, described as the world's first carbon-captured, net-zero cement, at a significantly higher capacity.

This development will significantly increase the availability of evoZero across Europe.

Government and Industry Leadership Response

Michael Shanks, Energy Minister in the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, stated: "Our clean energy mission means good jobs, regional growth, and investment for local communities. This trailblazing project in a cement plant showcases the North Wales workforce on the global stage – leading the charge in the clean industries of the future and powering Britain's reindustrialisation through this UK-first venture."

Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials, said: "This milestone comes just a few months after the launch of our Brevik CCS facility. It demonstrates the momentum behind our Net Zero agenda. At Padeswood, we have an invaluable advantage: We're building on the knowledge and learnings developed at Brevik by working closely with the teams behind its success, sharing best practices with our UK colleagues, whose expertise and enthusiasm will drive the project forward."

Technology and Environmental Impact

Dr Katharina Beumelburg, Chief Sustainability and New Technologies Officer of Heidelberg Materials, described the project as "a transformative leap for the entire hard-to-abate sector, both from a technological and a sustainability perspective. With evoZero from Padeswood, we will enable ambitious sustainable construction projects with measurable and verifiable CO₂ reductions, driving real change and shaping the future of our built environment."

The plant will capture CO₂ emissions from biomass fuels, mainly from domestic food, wood, and paper wastes that cannot be economically recycled. By capturing these emissions, the plant has the potential to become a carbon sink through the use of a high proportion of biogenic alternative fuels in the cement production process, made up of plant-based materials that have absorbed CO₂ during their lifecycle. When the associated carbon emissions are captured and stored, this reduces the total amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Infrastructure and Storage Solutions

The captured CO₂ will be compressed and transported via an underground pipeline for secure storage under the seabed in Liverpool Bay as part of the HyNet North West project. This infrastructure connection enables the long-term storage component of the carbon capture process. The Padeswood CCS project builds on the company's recent launch of Brevik CCS in Norway, which opened in June 2025 and is described as the world's first industrial-scale CCS facility in a cement plant.

The experiences and learnings from Brevik, including the integration of capture technology into ongoing operations and the collaboration with partners for CO₂ transport and storage, will be directly leveraged at Padeswood to accelerate delivery and de-risk implementation.

Economic Benefits and Employment

Padeswood CCS will bring significant economic benefits to North Wales by securing over 200 jobs and creating around 50 new ones, as well as up to 500 more during construction. The funding decision aligns with the UK Government's ambitions to reduce CO₂ emissions and drive economic growth through the construction sector. Jon Morrish, Member of the Managing Board of Heidelberg Materials and responsible for Europe, commented: "The UK Government has created a strong and supportive framework for industrial decarbonisation, which should serve as a blueprint for other countries in Europe.

We applaud its commitment to helping de-risk and enable a successful business case for projects like Padeswood CCS. It will be our second plant in Europe to produce evoZero carbon captured net-zero cement, helping our customers and the wider construction industry achieve their climate targets." The Padeswood CCS project represents Heidelberg Materials' first full-scale CCS facility to reach Final Investment Decision, marking a significant milestone in the company's decarbonisation strategy and the broader cement industry's transition toward net-zero emissions.

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