New carbon capture trial under way at Ketton cement works

Trial part of C-Capture’s national XLR8 CCS project to demonstrate solvent-based carbon capture solution

A NEW carbon capture trial has been launched at Heidelberg Materials’ Ketton cement works in Rutland. It is part of C-Capture’s national XLR8 carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, which aims to demonstrate that their low-cost carbon capture solution can be used in hard-to-abate industries such as cement and glass manufacturing.

C-Capture’s next-generation carbon capture technology uses a solvent to selectively capture CO₂, which can then be compressed and sent for storage in safe, geological reserves or used in other areas such as the fertilizer and oil and gas industries. The company’s process requires 40% less energy than other carbon capture technologies, reducing costs.

A carbon capture solvent compatibility unit has been installed at Ketton cement works to test the ability of C-Capture’s technology to remove CO₂ from the flue gas emissions produced during cement manufacture.

The Ketton project trial is one of six that will be delivered across three hard-to-abate industries – cement, glass, and energy from waste – with funding through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.

Simon Willis, chief executive officer of Heidelberg Materials UK, said: ‘Carbon capture is a critical part of our strategy to decarbonize cement production and essential if we are to reach net zero and help our customers achieve their own decarbonization goals.

‘Our venture with C-Capture is another example of our commitment to developing new technologies and, if successful, has the potential to be rolled-out at other sites across the Heidelberg Materials Group.’

Tom White, chief executive officer of C-Capture, added: ‘We are proud to be working with Heidelberg Materials and our other project partners who all have strong commitments to decarbonization and are early adopters of novel carbon capture technology.

‘Based on fundamentally different chemistry to other carbon capture approaches, C- Capture’s technology does not rely on the use of amines offering a lower-cost and environmentally benign solution. It is also extremely robust and able to withstand the challenging flue gases produced by hard-to-abate sectors.

‘The XLR8 CCS project is a critical step in the race to net zero as we work to demonstrate that an affordable carbon capture solution is a reality – even for industries that are difficult to decarbonize.’

XLR8 CCS is funded with £1.7 million from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. The funding is part of the £20 million Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) Innovation 2.0 programme aimed at accelerating the deployment of next-generation CCUS technology in the UK. Additional private sector contributions support a £2.7 million total for this multi-industry project.