EfW with CCS

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) refers to the capture of CO₂ followed by its processing, transport, and permanent storage, typically in geological formations. The technology is recognized by the UN International Panel on Climate Change as playing a vital role in achieving global climate goals. The development of CCS projects globally has increased dramatically in the past 5 years as a way of capturing industrial and power emissions.

Deployment of CCS is the only available technology for abating Scope 1 emissions from Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities. These facilities are a critical technology for processing residual waste which cannot be usefully reused or recycled, diverting waste away from landfill and offering local energy generation. In the UK, EfW facilities are forecast to play a long-term role in waste management, alongside other key measures of prevention, re-use and recycling. Deployment of CCS across EfW facilities will therefore be key to achieving UK net zero targets.   

In this new report, commissioned by Viridor, ERM assesses the opportunities for CCS on EfW in the UK, including defining expected stages of deployment and how these fit within a wider UK net zero strategy.

Four stages to deploying CCS on EfW facilities across the UK:

Uptake of CCS across the UK’s EfW facilities is aligned with the UK Net Zero strategy and supports key Government targets:

ERM’s report identifies a total of 30 EfW assets that are well-placed to deploy CCS by 2035, laying foundations for the development of CO₂ hubs and rapid decarbonisation of the waste sector. The UK EfW sector is already progressing on this journey, with two assets (Protos ERF and Viridor Runcorn) in negotiation for UK government funding to deploy CCS by 2027 and a further four assets having applied to the government’s competition. Next steps require the connection of other suitable EfW assets to Teesside and Merseyside hubs, the further development of CO₂ hubs (e.g., Grangemouth, Humber), and the development of hubs for CO₂ shipping (e.g., Medway, Avonmouth).

To learn more about ERM’s low-carbon technology consultancy capabilities (including waste management, CCS, GGRs, CO2 transport, and industrial decarbonisation) please contact the project team