370,000 tons of CO₂ to be captured annually using innovative carbon purification tech

A French company is set to deliver innovative CO₂ purification technology for UK’s first carbon capture plant at a waste-to-energy facility. Veolia has been awarded a significant contract by Kanadevia Inova AG to design and supply two CO₂ purification and dehydration units to be installed at Encyclis’ energy-from-waste facility near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. Veolia’s cutting-edge purification and dehydration technology will support the capture and storage of 370,000 tons of CO₂ annually, which is equivalent to removing 200,000 petrol cars from the road. Facility will become a negative emitter “This pioneering project establishes Veolia at the forefront of industrial decarbonization and environmental security,” said Anne Le Guennec, CEO of Veolia’s water technology activities. “We are delivering on our promise to drive ecological transformation by enabling industries to transition toward net zero, in line with our GreenUp strategic program. With active carbon capture projects across Europe and the US, Veolia is the partner of choice for organizations seeking to decarbonize at scale, and we look forward to accelerating additional carbon capture, utilization and storage projects worldwide.”The Protos project, the UK’s first full-scale carbon capture facility integrated with an energy-from-waste plant, will process up to 500,000 tons of non-recyclable waste annually, generating up to 49.9 MW of baseload electricity for the National Grid while capturing approximately 370,000 tons of CO₂ each year. Once operational in mid-2029, the facility will become a negative emitter, with captured CO₂ transported via the HyNet North West pipeline network for permanent geological storage in depleted gas reservoirs beneath Liverpool Bay, according to a press release. Full-scale carbon capture market This contract marks Veolia’s entry into the full-scale carbon capture market and reinforces its commitment to accelerating industrial decarbonization and environmental security through innovative technology.Veolia’s compact, modular purification and dehydration units were specifically designed to fit within the constrained space of the Protos ERF building envelope. The technology will ensure the captured CO₂ meets the stringent purity standards required for safe transport and long-term storage, a critical factor in the project’s success and a testament to Veolia’s ability to deliver tailored decarbonization solutions for complex industrial challenges, as per the release.Carbon dioxide captured from industrial processes often requires further treatment before it can be transported through pipeline infrastructure or stored underground. Purification removes unwanted impurities, while dehydration reduces moisture content. Both processes are essential to ensure that the CO₂ meets the required specifications for transportation and storage.Veolia’s compact, modular systems have been specifically designed to accommodate the space constraints of the existing energy-from-waste facility. Their integration into the plant will help address the technical challenges associated with installing carbon capture infrastructure within an operational industrial site.The contract highlights the importance of specialized gas treatment and purification systems in making large-scale carbon capture projects technically viable.For the waste management sector, carbon capture could provide an additional pathway for reducing emissions from residual waste treatment, complementing waste prevention, reuse and recycling. It should not, however, replace efforts to reduce waste generation or improve material recovery.The Protos project offers an opportunity to assess how these approaches can be integrated into a broader environmental strategy.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.