25-Million-Dollar Investment UK Launches its Largest Carbon Capture Plant

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Tata Chemicals Europe has launched the first industrial scale carbon capture and usage plant in the UK. The plant is expected to capture 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Also, CO2 captured from energy generation emissions is being purified to food and pharmaceutical grade which will then be used as a raw material to produce sodium bicarbonate.

Cheshire/UK – The 25-million-dollar investment has been completed by Northwich-based Tata Chemicals Europe, one of Europe's leading producers of sodium carbonate, salt and sodium bicarbonate. The plant captures 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year - the equivalent to taking over 20,000 cars off the roads and reduces TCE’s carbon emissions by more than 10 %. The project will help unlock the future of carbon capture in the UK as it demonstrates the viability of the technology to remove carbon dioxide from power plant emissions and to use it in high end manufacturing applications.

In a world-first, carbon dioxide captured from energy generation emissions is being purified to food and pharmaceutical grade and used as a raw material in the manufacture of sodium bicarbonate which will be known as Ecokarb. This unique and innovative process is patented in the UK with further patents pending in key territories around the world.

Ecokarb will be exported to over 60 countries around the world, generating tens of millions of export revenue every year. Much of the sodium bicarbonate exported will be used in haemodialysis to treat people living with kidney disease.

The carbon capture plant, which was supported with a 5.1 million dollar grant through the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS) Energy Innovation Programme, marks a major step towards sustainable manufacturing which will see TCE make net zero sodium bicarbonate and one of the lowest carbon footprint sodium carbonate products in the world.

The manufacturer is the only business in the UK to make these products which are used to make essential items in everyday life, from glass, washing detergents and pharmaceuticals to food, animal feed and water purification.

Martin Ashcroft, Managing Director of Tata Chemicals Europe, said: “The completion of the carbon capture and utilization (CCU) demonstration plant enables us to reduce our carbon emissions, whilst securing our supply of high purity carbon dioxide, a critical raw material, helping us to grow the export of our pharmaceutical grade products across the world.

"This project is a great example of business and Government together rising to the challenge of decarbonizing energy intensive industrial manufacturing. The innovation to create this unique process is a major step forwards in the green industrial revolution and has been recognized by the award of a UK patent and patents pending in key territories across the world for the process.”

Speaking at the opening of the plant, Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale said: “The investment made by Tata Chemicals Europe in this leading-edge carbon capture plant will not only support the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions here, but it will also pave the way for others to use this technology. Tata Chemicals Europe helps support over 1000 jobs so this type of sustainable investment will help secure chemical manufacturing in Cheshire for future generations.”

Speaking about the opening of the plant, Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “This cutting-edge plant, backed by 5.1-million-dollar government funding, demonstrates how carbon capture is attracting new private capital into the UK and is boosting new innovation in green technologies.

“We are determined to make the UK a world-leader in carbon capture, which will help us reduce emissions and be a key part of the future of British industry.”

Already generating heat and electricity from one of the most efficient combined heat and power plants in the UK, TCE now produces half the amount of carbon dioxide per kilowatt of electricity generated compared to a typical gas fired power station.

Martin Ashcroft added: “Our plant is really important in demonstrating the viability of the technology required to remove carbon dioxide from power plant emissions, helping to de-risk potentially larger investments in the future.

“Today marks a key development in our low carbon transition helping to develop more sustainable manufacturing techniques that can be applied at a global level.

“It also highlights our commitment to provide long-term, high-quality jobs in our local communities which is a key part of our modern industrial strategy as we work towards a net zero economy.”

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