UK’s first carbon capture pilot at energy-from-waste site begins
The trial has been billed as a milestone for Britain’s energy sector, removing carbon emissions at scale from a facility which is central to the country’s net zero goals.
enfinium’s Ferrybridge 1 energy-from-waste plant at Knottingley, West Yorkshire is capturing one tonne of CO2 per day as part of the pilot, which will run for 12 months.
The technology is a scaled down version of the system that will be deployed in full across all the company’s UK sites, if testing proves successful. The firm currently operates six waste-from-energy facilities, all of which emit significant levels of carbon into the atmosphere.
Planning and consenting work to install full scale carbon capture and storage at Ferrybridge 1 and 2 will also now be accelerated by enfinium. A consultation has started, and will run through to 20th October 2024. The infrastructure is designated as a Project of National Significance.
CO2 capture rate and solvent degradation can now be tested in real time, among other types of emissions and pollution-related measurements, helping ascertain effectiveness and efficiency. By deploying carbon capture and storage [CCS] at energy-from-waste infrastructure, it’s possible to generate durable carbon removals, leading to ‘negative emissions’ – where total reduction in carbon is greater than what is put out from the process of making energy from food, biological and paper waste, which contains embodied carbon.
;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. Through projects such as the one at Ferrybridge, the UK will be able to meet the clean power by 2030 target,’ said Olivia Powis, CEO, Carbon Capture and Storage Association.
‘I’m delighted to see the fantastic work being piloted in Ferrybridge, continuing the long tradition of energy generation and innovation in West Yorkshire,’ added Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said. ‘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.’
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Image: enfinium