Heidelberg Materials today announced it has taken the Final Investment Decision (FID) to build the world’s first fully-decarbonised cement facility at its Padeswood plant in North Wales, following a funding agreement with the UK Government. The pioneering carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, enabling the production of evoZero® net-zero cement at industrial scale.
The new CCS plant at Padeswood will be Heidelberg Materials’ second industrial-scale CCS facility after the Brevik plant in Norway, which began operations in June 2025. While Brevik CCS captures 50% of emissions, Padeswood is designed to capture nearly all CO₂ emissions from cement production and the on-site combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The facility is expected to be fully operational by 2029.
A Landmark for UK Decarbonisation
The UK Government is supporting the project as part of its clean energy and industrial decarbonisation strategy.
“This trailblazing project in a cement plant showcases the North Wales workforce on the global stage – leading the charge in the clean industries of the future and powering Britain’s reindustrialisation,” said Michael Shanks, UK Energy Minister.
“This milestone demonstrates the momentum behind our Net Zero agenda,” added Dr Dominik von Achten, Chairman of the Managing Board, Heidelberg Materials. “At Padeswood, we’re building on the knowledge from Brevik CCS, leveraging best practices and driving industrial transformation in the UK.”
Driving Net-Zero Cement with evoZero®
The project will significantly expand the production of evoZero®, the world’s first carbon captured net-zero cement, across Europe. By using a high share of biogenic alternative fuels such as domestic food, wood, and paper waste — combined with carbon capture — the facility could even become a carbon sink, reducing more CO₂ from the atmosphere than it emits.
Economic and Community Impact
Construction at Padeswood will begin later this year and deliver major economic benefits to the region, including:
- Securing over 200 jobs at the cement plant
- Creating 50 new permanent jobs
- Up to 500 jobs during construction
- Supporting regional supply chains through the HyNet North West CO₂ transport and storage network in Liverpool Bay
“Padeswood CCS represents a transformative leap for the entire hard-to-abate sector,” said Dr Katharina Beumelburg, Chief Sustainability and New Technologies Officer, Heidelberg Materials. “It enables measurable CO₂ reductions that will shape the future of sustainable construction.”
