'Hundreds' of jobs unlocked after North Wales power station development signs up for carbon capture
Under HyNet new pipelines and manufacturing facilities will be constructed across Cheshire and Flintshire, and existing power plants will be repurposed to capture carbon emissions and store them under the seabed, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling the climate crisis.
Carbon capture and storage forms part of the government's modern Industrial Strategy and will help to cleanly power heavy industry in the years to come.
The two projects being prioritised to join the network are:
Connah's Quay Low Carbon Power project in North Wales – a new power station with carbon capture and storage that at peak output is expected to produce enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 900,000 homes, whilst capturing CO2 emissions. Low-carbon power provides essential backup for a clean power system when wind and solar generation is low, delivering energy security for families and businesses.
Ince Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (InBECCS) in Cheshire – the project will use waste wood to generate low-carbon energy and capture CO2 emissions. It will be the first carbon capture enabled greenhouse gas removals project in the UK, creating a new major infrastructure sector in the North West with high-quality jobs.
The two projects are tipped to create 800 jobs in the construction and operation phases with the government saying "hundreds" of those will be in North Wales.
Mike Lockett, UK Country Chair for Uniper, who are developing the North Wales scheme, said: 'We're delighted that that the UK Government has confirmed that we're entering into negotiations to develop our Connah's Quay Low Carbon Power project in North Wales.
'Government's support for the development of carbon capture and storage infrastructure, creating the framework needed for pioneering projects like our Connah's Quay Low Carbon Power, is vital for moving towards clean power 2030 and at the same time maintaining a secure electricity supply.'
Industry Minister Sarah Jones said: 'We are securing the jobs of the future, the power for our homes and the protection of our planet by becoming world leaders on carbon capture and storage.
'These new projects will bring industrial renewal, unlock growth and secure an additional 800 good, skilled jobs for local people across North Wales and the North West – taking the total supported by HyNet to 2,800 – all part of our Plan for Change.'
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 'This is another significant moment for the growing clean energy industry in Wales. We are making the UK a clean energy superpower and delivering the well-paid, highly-skilled jobs of the future in the process.
'It's fantastic to see North Wales at the forefront of the carbon capture industry and the hundreds of new jobs being created by the HyNet project will help drive regional growth as well as accelerating our drive towards lower bills and energy security.'
The projects join an existing three schemes lined up for HyNet.
These are:
Protos Energy Recovery Facility, Encyclis, Ellesmere Port (Cheshire)
Hanson Padeswood Cement Works Carbon Capture Project, Heidelberg Materials, Padeswood (North Wales)
Hydrogen Production Plant 1 (HPP1), EET Hydrogen, Stanlow (Cheshire)
Five projects are also being lined up as standby projects with potential to connect to the network should space become available. These are:
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