Heidelberg Materials UK is making significant progress on its carbon capture and storage facility in Padeswood, Wales.
Heidelberg Materials UK has advanced its plans to deliver the region’s first carbon capture facility, securing strategic partners to support the project’s engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) requirements.
It marks a significant step in what is traditionally an emissions-intensive industry. Many countries consider the cement sector to be “hard to abate”, since carbon emissions are considerable throughout the production process of cement.
Given this reality, the major construction materials companies have begun investing in carbon-capture technology at various stages to reduce the sector’s overall carbon footprint, especially as entire countries look towards a net-zero emissions target.
While it comes at no small cost to invest in these solutions, it does enable the quarrying sector to move towards cleaner manufacturing and deliver more sustainable construction materials.
Heidelberg Materials UK’s decision to build a carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at Padeswood in North Wales is one of the most ambitious and extensive efforts to reduce emissions in the industry to date.
“The new facility will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year from our existing works and enable the production of evoZero, the world’s first carbon-captured near-zero cement, on an industrial scale to help decarbonise the construction industry,” Heidelberg Materials UK chief executive officer Simon Willis said.
The UK-based producer recently moved one step closer to making that dream a reality by signing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Worley to an EPCM contract. It builds on the existing relationships between the companies after MHI and Worley completed the front-end engineering design for the North Wales project. Under the terms of the agreement, MHI will be responsible for delivering the carbon-capture technology at Padeswood while Worley will lead the EPCM delivery. The Australian-based firm will also provide support across the project’s infrastructure development, technology integration, and commissioning.
“This project is a landmark for industrial decarbonisation in the UK and Europe and part of the HyNet carbon capture cluster. We’re proud to be working alongside Heidelberg Materials and MHI to deliver a facility that will help transform cement production and support the UK’s net zero ambitions,” Worley chief executive officer Chris Aston said.
“Our role in this project reflects our ability to enable sustainable industrial solutions and leverage our global expertise in delivery for complex energy and infrastructure projects.”
Willis said that partnering with Worley and MHI was an easy decision.
“We have established an excellent working relationship with Worley and MHI during the completion of the front-end engineering design for our Padeswood project,” he said.
“This, along with their proven track record in delivering this type of complex facility, makes them the perfect partner to take our groundbreaking project to the next stage.
“This is the next major milestone in our plans to build the UK’s first carbon capture facility at a cement works.”
The Padeswood project, which is considered part of the wider HyNet North West initiative, is expected to be operational by 2029 with around 50 new roles created at the Padeswood facility and up to 500 jobs supported during the construction phase. The facility will be capable of compressing captured CO2, which will then be transported via an underground pipeline and stored beneath the seabed of Liverpool Bay.
“It is fantastic to see North Wales at the forefront of carbon capture and the hundreds of new jobs being created by these projects will help drive regional growth as well as accelerating our drive towards lower bills and energy security,” Wales secretary of state Jo Stevens said.
Investor confidence
The Padeswood project progressed rapidly throughout 2025, with major achievements including planning approval, secured investment, and construction beginning before the end of the year.
The UK Government reached a final investment decision with Heidelberg Materials UK in September 2025, which paved the way for construction to begin on the project. UK energy minister Michael Shanks confirmed the funding for the project, describing them as “trailblazing” in their respective sectors.
“Our clean energy mission means good jobs, regional growth, and investment for local communities,” he said.
“These trailblazing projects showcase North Wales and the North West’s workforce on the global stage – leading the charge in the clean industries of the future and powering Britain’s reindustrialisation.”
The Padeswood decision was announced alongside the UK government’s agreement with Encyclis’ Protos project at Ellesmere Port.
The latter will be a waste-to-energy facility and, alongside the Padeswood project, will be part of Eni’s Liverpool Bay transportation and storage network and the HyNet carbon capture cluster, which the UK Government approved in April 2025.
The HyNet cluster is effectively a mixture of new and repurposed infrastructure across the northwest of England and North Wales, with the capacity to capture and store carbon emissions in Eni’s permanent storage in Liverpool Bay.
Carbon Capture and Storage Association chief executive officer Olivia Powis said the support for CCS projects needed to continue if governments were serious about decarbonising ‘hard to abate’ sectors.
“Cement and energy from waste are two of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise, yet they are fundamental to our economy and way of life – from building new homes and vital infrastructure to managing society’s unrecyclable waste and providing reliable low-carbon power,” she said.
“These world-leading projects show how carbon capture can provide credible, scalable pathways to net zero, securing the future of essential UK industries and keeping businesses competitive in global markets.
“[It will] kickstart the UK’s new low-carbon cement market, driving economic growth in local communities.” •
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