Carbon8 win approval to build new plant in Leeds
Carbon-negative lightweight aggregate producer secures planning permission for third UK production facility
CARBON-negative aggregate specialists Carbon8 Aggregates have won planning permission to build a new £4 million pound manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Leeds.
The joint planning application for the 13-acre site, part of an industrial estate at Cross Green, to the south east of the city, was submitted with local independent block makers Thomas Armstrong, who will build a new block production plant alongside Carbon8’s aggregate operation.
Plans were approved by Leeds City Council on 16 February and work is expected to begin on the Carbon8 facility in August this year.
When operational, the new two-line facility will create more than 20 new jobs in the area and be capable of transforming 50,000 tonnes of waste flue-gas treatment residues (FGTr) from energy-from-waste (EfW) facilities into approximately 110,000 tonnes of lightweight secondary aggregate.
Stephen Roscoe, Carbon8’s technical director, said: ‘We’re delighted to have secured the go-ahead for our third facility, the first in the north of England, and believe this confirms our position as the market leader in FGTr recycling.
‘We are already in advanced discussions regarding contracts for more than 50% of the FGTr into Leeds and, due to the imminent closure of coal-fired power stations in the region, we’re also seeing strong demand from block makers for our aggregate, which will replace the power station ash frequently used in block manufacture.’
Using an award-winning, patented process known as accelerated carbonation technology (ACT) to manufacture a high-quality lightweight aggregate called C8Aggregate (C8A), Carbon8 say that by permanently capturing more carbon dioxide (CO2) than is generated during its manufacture, the ACT process means C8A is the world’s first truly carbon-negative aggregate.
Thomas Armstrong, who trade as Stocks Blocks, will use the aggregate in the production of construction blocks.
The new Leeds facility will be based on the design of Carbon8’s flagship Avonmouth operation (pictured), which has just finished undergoing final performance testing as part of its commissioning process.
Mr Roscoe added: ‘Avonmouth has performed well during commissioning and we have accepted hand-over of the facility, which has been delivered on time and within budget. We are currently processing FGTr from existing Carbon8 contracts and inputs into the facility are already nearing capacity. We have seen a very high level of interest in our pioneering technology from EfW facilities as well as strong demand for aggregate from local block makers.’
The Avonmouth facility, built in 2015, is the second Carbon8 plant to be constructed, following on from Carbon8’s first facility at Brandon, Suffolk.
The Brandon, Avonmouth and Leeds sites will have a combined capacity in excess of 130,000 tonnes per annum of FGTr, and the Leeds site is said to mark a significant step in Carbon8’s strategy to develop five sites nationally with a capacity of 250,000 tonnes per annum.
Moreover, Carbon8 say they are uniquely placed to benefit from the recent EC Circular Economy Package, which includes revised legislative proposals on waste to stimulate the transition to a circular economy. A key component of the package are measures to promote re-use and stimulate industrial symbiosis – turning one industry’s by-product into another industry’s raw material.
