Viridor's Runcorn CCS Project : World leading carbon capture
WE ARE PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN TRANSFORMING THE WASTE SECTOR
Viridor’s Carbon Capture Plant at Runcorn is the largest opportunity to accelerate deployment of CCS to decarbonise the waste sector.
The UK Government announced in March 2023 that Runcorn Energy Recovery Facility’s CCS Project has been shortlisted for the final stage in the Government’s industrial carbon capture (ICC) sequencing process. The proposed plant will be one of the first carbon capture projects on an EfW facility in the world.
At the end of March 2024, we announced that we have moved a step closer to making the UK's first negative emissions project a reality, by agreeing a statement of principles with the UK Government's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
Developing CCS at Runcorn will kick start a world leading carbon capture industry the UK. The project alone will capture c.900,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. Half of the captured CO2 will be from biogenic sources, effectively removing 450,000 tonnes from the atmosphere annually and driving the development of a critical source of negative carbon emissions.
Runcorn CCS project will provide stable baseload supply to the HyNet industrial carbon capture cluster in the North West and create net additional impact to the UK economy of 1,300 person-years of employment in design and construction, and c. 60 high permanent jobs in operation and maintenance.
CGI of what Runcorn CCS could look like
Viridor's Runcorn CCS Project to Advance to Next Stage
Viridor Runcorn CCS Project to Advance to Next Stage
Update on project progress
In further progress for our Carbon Capture project at Runcorn, we have submitted a Scoping Report to Halton Borough Council.
This document outlines our proposals and identifies the potential environmental impacts that we believe we should assess as we prepare our forthcoming planning application. This will enable us to ensure the correct environmental factors are identified and that, where required, appropriate mitigation is proposed. You can download it below.
Halton Borough Council, as the planning authority that will be determining our application, will now consider this report and feedback its opinions to us.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our project - please call our information line on 0800 860 6264. You can also email us on info@runcornccs.com.
Tom Heap visits Runcorn ERF
Sky News climate presenter Tom Heap recently visited our Runcorn Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) and the wider HyNet cluster to find out more about our plans for CCS.
What is Energy Recovery?
01What is Energy Recovery?
Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF) are vital in supporting the UK’s ambition to reduce waste in an efficient and effective manner, helping to reduce the impact of waste on climate change.
After reducing, reusing and recycling as much as possible, residual waste is sent to an ERF where it undergoes a process which involves burning the waste to produce steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity or to produce heat.
ERF's helps divert waste from landfills, enabling waste to move higher up the waste hierarchy and avoid the production of methane - a potent greenhouse gas.
Take a tour of our Virtual ERF
What is Carbon Capture?
02What is Carbon Capture?
Carbon capture refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial processes, power plants, and other sources to prevent its release into the atmosphere. This is done in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Once captured, it is transported and stored in a secure location such as underground geological formations or saline aquifers.
Find out more about CCS technology from the Carbon Capture, utilisation and storage association (CCSA)
What are negative emissions?
03What are negative emissions?
Negative emissions refer to the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere using techniques such as carbon capture and storage, afforestation, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.
These techniques can create a negative emissions balance, where more CO2 is removed from the atmosphere than is emitted.
Find out more about negative emissions from the Coalition for negative emissions.
What is the difference between biogenic and anthropegnetic CO2?
04What is the difference between biogenic and anthropegnetic CO2?
Biogenic carbon dioxide comes from natural processes, while anthropogenic carbon dioxide comes from human activities like burning fossil fuels.
Biogenic CO2 is part of the natural carbon cycle and typically does not contribute to climate change, while anthropogenic CO2 is a major contributor to climate change.
Energy from waste can play a leading role in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts
Research by environmental consultancy Eunomia in 2021 found that the waste sector could help meet half of the UK Government's target by using CCS technology.
