TATA Chemicals Europe is looking to implement a carbon dioxide capture plant at its Winnington works – the first proposal of its kind in the UK.
The company wants to build the ‘CO2 Capture Plant’ on the site of its former Lime Buildings, which were historically used as offices, canteen space and more but are now derelict and scheduled for demolition.
The new structure would remove 11 per cent of carbon dioxide from exhaust gases at the existing combined heat and power (CHP) energy plant.
TCE, whose Winnington works is the UK’s largest single user of CO2, also say it would improve self-sufficiency to remove almost 3,000 HGV movements from the area by eliminating CO2 deliveries from across the UK.
Artist's impression
A planning statement said three or four tankers of CO2 are imported each day to be stored in vertical tanks and power the CHP.
It said: “There are a limited number of CO2 suppliers in the UK and … the availability of CO2 can become scarce.
“This can lead to a reduced Sodium Bicarbonate production and customer delivery restrictions. In summer 2018 there was a European wide CO2 shortage that affected TCE.”
CO2 emissions from the exhaust gases of the CHP – which provides heat and power to the works – would be captured and transported through pipes to be stripped, liquefied, cooled, compressed and stored.
TCE says the scheme would satisfy the government’s bid to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The planning statement said: “The [government’s] Carbon Capture and Utilisation Demonstration (CCUD) Programme, announced in the Clean Growth Strategy, will provide grant funding to innovation projects that significantly reduce the cost of capturing and utilisation of CO2.
“As the UK’s largest single site user of CO2, TCE are bringing forward the proposed development in response to the government’s call for CCUD sites.
“It would be the first of its kind within the UK and is aligned precisely with the objectives of the Clean Growth Strategy in respect of carbon capture and utilisation.”
Construction could take around 12 months, with the tallest elements of the structure standing at 42 metres and 27.5 metres tall, respectively.
Once operational, TCE says, the plant would capture 115 tonnes of CO2 per day, which would otherwise have been emitted to the atmosphere. This equates to around 40,000 tonnes per year.
A planning application has been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council.
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