UK – Energy-from-waste operator Enfinium has launched the UK’s first carbon capture pilot at its Ferrybridge-1 energy-from-waste facility in Knottingley, West Yorkshire.

This milestone marks a significant step in Enfinium’s goal to deploy Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology across its UK sites, contributing to the country’s Net Zero target.

The pilot system, supplied by global green technology company Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI), is a scaled-down, containerized version of the CCS technology.

If successful, it captures one metric ton of CO2 emissions daily from the plant’s operations. If successful, this technology could be implemented across all of Enfinium’s facilities.

Olivia Powis, CEO of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “With millions of tons of unrecyclable waste produced in the UK, this project demonstrates the potential for CCS to generate clean power via energy-from-waste and lay the groundwork for the UK’s greenhouse gas removal market.

“Enfinium’s work at Ferrybridge is a landmark step towards achieving this goal. Through projects like this, the UK can meet its clean power target by 2030.”

The pilot, scheduled to run for at least 12 months, will collect operational data on factors like CO2 capture rates and solvent performance.

The results will help determine how CCS technology can be applied at scale across Enfinium’s six energy-from-waste facilities, ultimately removing large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, praised the project, “Enfinium’s development is encouraging, as our region’s modeling shows a clear need for carbon capture and storage to help us meet our Net Zero ambitions.

“Climate change is a global challenge, and innovations like this are key to building a greener, more sustainable future.”

Earlier this year, Enfinium outlined its Net Zero Transition Plan, detailing how it aims to decarbonize operations and deliver up to 1.2 million tonnes of carbon removals annually by the 2030s.

The company has committed up to £1.7 billion (US$2.2 billion) to invest in carbon capture technology across its energy-from-waste sites.

Permanent carbon storage

Deploying CCS at energy-from-waste facilities generates durable carbon removals, or “negative emissions.”

Approximately 50% of unrecyclable waste consists of biogenic materials, such as food waste, plants, and paper, which have absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere.

With CCS technology, this CO2 can be permanently captured and stored instead of being released back into the air, resulting in a net reduction of carbon in the atmosphere.

The UK’s Climate Change Committee Progress Report (July 2023) highlighted the need to accelerate the production of carbon removals to stay on track for Net Zero.

Additionally, the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies found that the energy-from-waste sector could contribute up to 8 million tonnes of carbon removals annually.

Mike Maudsley, CEO of Enfinium, expressed pride in the project, “We are excited to have this sector-leading initiative up and running. Carbon capture technology is crucial to the UK’s ability to decarbonize unrecyclable waste and generate carbon removals at scale, helping us achieve Net Zero.”

Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin, CEO of HZI, echoed the sentiment, “Working with Enfinium on the UK’s first carbon capture pilot at an energy-from-waste facility is an exciting venture. This operational pilot demonstrates our capability to deliver decarbonizing infrastructure critical for the waste sector’s Net Zero ambitions.

“The project will enhance our knowledge of carbon capture and provide a platform for global decarbonization solutions.”

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