In the UK, cement producer Hanson UK, a subsidiary of Germany's HeidelbergCement AG, has become a partner in the HyNet North West consortium, which aims to create the world’s first low-carbon industrial cluster in the region of North West England. The proposed hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) project will play a critical role in the UK’s transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and the fight against climate change.
The HyNet North West project covers the largest concentration of advanced manufacturing and chemical production in the UK, including Hanson’s Padeswood cement plant. The project, led by Progressive Energy, is being developed by a consortium of regionally located partners including Cadent, CF Fertilisers, Eni UK, Essar, INOVYN, and the University of Chester as well as Hanson UK.
The project will reduce regional carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 10 million tonnes every year by 2030 – including up to 800 000 tonnes from the Hanson plant in Padeswood.
HyNet North West will deliver 80 percent of the national hydrogen production target, 100 percent of the national target for CCS capacity by 2030, and a hydrogen town. The HyNet North West project also includes the production, storage, and distribution of low carbon hydrogen, which will help to decarbonize other industries whose CO2 emissions primarily come from fossil fuels.
As a first step, a feasibility study will be conducted to provide a clear design basis and cost estimate for a capture facility at Hanson’s Padeswood cement plant, and connection to the proposed HyNet North West CO2 network and storage system.
Our involvement in HyNet North West is the next step in HeidelbergCement’s path towards industrial scaling of carbon capture technologies. Carbon capture and utilization or storage is a key part of our climate strategy, and we are already seeing great success with our various initiatives, said Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board of HeidelbergCement.
