Enfinium, a leading UK energy-from-waste operator, has launched the country’s first carbon capture pilot at an energy-from-waste facility, marking a significant step in the company’s plans to implement Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology across its UK sites.
The pilot, installed at Enfinium’s Ferrybridge-1 facility in West Yorkshire, captures one tonne of CO2 emissions daily. The scaled-down CCS technology, provided by global green tech company Hitachi Zosen Inova, is being tested to gather operational data on CO2 capture rates and solvent performance. The trial will run for at least 12 months and is being used to demonstrate how the technology can be applied at scale across enfinium’s fleet of six energy from waste facilities to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The pilot is collecting real operational data on performance, such as CO2 capture rate and solvent degradation, and will assess the performance of different amine solvents.
Earlier this year, Enfinium unveiled its Net Zero Transition Plan, outlining its strategy to decarbonise operations and achieve up to 1.2 million tonnes of carbon removals annually by the 2030s. Supported by a £1.7 billion investment, the plan focuses on scaling CCS technology at its energy-from-waste facilities.
By deploying CCS at energy-from-waste sites, durable carbon removals, or “negative emissions,” can be achieved. Approximately 50% of unrecyclable waste consists of biogenic materials like food, plants, and paper, which have already absorbed atmospheric CO2. With CCS, this CO2 is captured and stored, preventing its release and achieving a net reduction in atmospheric carbon.
Mike Maudsley, CEO of enfinium said, “Using carbon capture, the energy from the waste sector can provide significant levels of carbon removals, and enfinium, with the support of HZI, is taking steps now to achieve this.”
Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin, CEO of HZI said, “The operational pilot demonstrates our capability to deliver vital decarbonising infrastructure for the waste sector that is critical to the industry’s Net Zero ambitions. The project will meaningfully expand our carbon capture knowledge base and provide a springboard for delivering decarbonisation solutions worldwide.”
CEO, Carbon Capture and Storage Association Olivia Powis said, “The launch of CCS at Ferrybridge is very exciting to see. With millions of tonnes of unrecyclable waste produced by the UK, this is an important demonstration of the use of CCS to generate clean power via energy from waste, as well as providing a future route to establishing the UK’s greenhouse gas removal market and enfinium have taken a landmark step with its delivery.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said, “I’m delighted to see the fantastic work being piloted in Ferrybridge, continuing the long tradition of energy generation and innovation in West Yorkshire. To see this development from enfinium is massively encouraging, as our own modelling shows a need for carbon capture and storage to help us reach our Net Zero ambitions. Climate change is one of the biggest global challenges we face, so it’s vital we find new opportunities for innovation that can help us build a greener, more secure region that’s fit for the future.”
Enfinium is also advancing the planning and consenting programme for the installation of Carbon Capture and Storage at its Ferrybridge 1 and 2 Facilities in West Yorkshire by launching a five-week public consultation, running from 16 September to 20 October 2024. The project was designated as a Project of National Significance earlier this year.