UK: Heidelberg Materials UK has said that groundwork is progressing well at its Padeswood site in north Wales, where it is building the UK’s first carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility. More than 60,000t of aggregate has been used to establish the working areas and over 600 concrete piles have already been placed by two piling rigs, as part of the construction of a retaining wall. All of the concrete being used to construct the facility incorporates evoZero carbon captured ‘near-zero’ cement.
“We are delighted with the pace of construction of our Padeswood CCS project and it is great to watch as our plans turn into reality,” said Simon Willis, Heidelberg Materials UK CEO.
“We are using evoZero cement wherever possible to lower the carbon impact of the project and there is a symmetry to using a product produced using CCS to help build the infrastructure for another.”
This phase of the groundwork is being carried out through Worley which, along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction management contract to build the Padeswood facility. The completed groundwork on site includes installation of newt and security fencing, diversion of overhead powerlines and cables, and removal of 25,000t of topsoil, which has been stockpiled for re-use in reinstatement works on site. Currently, around 80 construction workers are on site each day, which is expected to double by the end of 2026.
The Padeswood facility is designed to capture around 95% of the CO₂ emissions from the existing cement works - around 800,000t/yr once running at full capacity.
