What is CCS technology and how can it be applied to cement production in the UK?

To produce cement, limestone is heated to around 1,400°C and calcined into cement clinker. This chemical process is imperative in cement production , but one that accounts for two-thirds of direct CO₂ emissions made in cement manufacturing. Even if 100% renewable energy is used for the manufacturing  process, these emissions are unavoidable. As a result, cement production is a hard-to-abate industry, and one that requires carbon capture and storage (CCS) for decarbonisation.

What is CCS?

Carbon capture and storage is a process that:

1. Captures CO₂ emissions at source. In the case of cement production, we use proven amine technology to catch the emissions before they enter the atmosphere.
2. Compresses the remaining CO₂.
3. Transports this CO₂ to be injected into secure and existing geological formations deep underground, such as depleted oil and gas fields, or under the seabed for permanent storage.

In June 2025, we opened our CCS plant in Brevik, Norway, which is the first operational industrial scale CCS cement plant of its kind anywhere in the world. Brevik CCS captures approximately 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, which accounts for 50 per cent of CO₂ emissions from the cement’s production. This CO₂ is permanently stored 2.6 kilometers beneath the seabed. 

Does CCS affect cement properties?

Using carbon capture and storage technology doesn’t alter the cement’s properties. It is still strong, durable, and fully compliant with BS EN 197-1:2011 (UK cement specifications), so mix designs do not need to change. CCS simply prevents the CO₂ emissions produced during the manufacturing process from entering the atmosphere. As a result, the carbon footprint of the cement is dramatically lower than cement made without CCS technology. 

To learn more, read our article: Environmental benefits of using carbon captured cement.

How ready is CCS technology in the UK for cement production?

This said, the UK has long been crying out for a dedicated carbon capture and storage plant to apply the technology to cement production. Our Padeswood CCS plant will be the world’s first carbon capture facility which enables fully decarbonised cement production. We’re aiming for it to be operational by 2029 , with the plant able to capture and store around 800,000 tonnes of carbon annually. In a global first, evoZero carbon captured cement will be produced at the site, representing a groundbreaking move towards net zero for the construction industry.

How our CCS technology is used for HyNet

Our Padeswood CCS project is an integral part of HyNet , a major industrial decarbonisation project taking place in north-west England and north Wales. HyNet is integral to the UK meeting its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2050, with the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions in the region by up to 10 million tonnes.

Carbon capture and storage at Padeswood

Padeswood CCS

Target: To be the world’s first full-scale near-zero cement works by 2029

Products: evoZero carbon-captured cement

Location: North Wales

Progress: Construction started in late 2025

Funding: With UK government support 

Capacity: Up to 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ captured annually (once fully operational) 

Watch the animation below to see how we will apply CCS technology to cement production at our Padeswood plant. You can also find more details about the process and the plant by downloading our brochure or by visiting the Padeswood CCS website .

What can cement produced using CCS technology be used for?

evoZero carbon captured cement replaces CEM I in any construction application, as it is essentially the same product, just without the carbon footprint. By choosing concrete containing evoZero as opposed to CEM I, you can lower the carbon within your project, from major infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, and tunnels to smaller projects such as paving slabs, paths or precast concrete. 

How CCS lowers Scope 3 emissions

Using cement that has been produced using CCS technology and that can directly replace CEM I cement on a like-for-like basis means contractors, specifiers, engineers, and architects can hit ambitious sustainability goals and low-carbon building targets. CCS technology helps to lower Scope 3 emissions by reducing the embodied carbon of the purchased goods - in this case, cement either on its own, or within concrete. This is all without changing construction methods, missing project milestones, or incurring further product testing.

Carbon captured cement: Just one of many innovative sustainable building materials from Heidelberg Materials

We’re proud to be pioneering the UK’s first carbon captured cement, but we know that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

To meet our 2030 sustainability commitments, we’re developing a range of sustainable building materials that span cement, concrete, aggregates, and asphalt. To us, a sustainable building material is one made with recycled materials and/or with lower CO₂ emissions during production, which maintains the same high performance and quality properties as the conventional materials. 

Every one of these materials is designed to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining high quality standards over its entire life cycle.

Apply our CCS technology to your construction project

Turn your construction project into a sustainability flagship with evoZero, the world’s first carbon captured near-zero cement. Contact us via evozerouk@heidelbergmaterials.com or by completing the contact form below.