AFRY wins engineering role on UK’s first full-scale carbon capture plant for waste-to-energy sector

AFRY has secured a key engineering contract for what is set to become the UK’s first full-scale carbon capture facility integrated with a waste-to-energy plant, marking a major milestone in the decarbonisation of the country’s energy recovery sector.

The engineering assignment has been awarded by Kanadevia Inova, which is serving as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the carbon capture facility being developed alongside UK energy-from-waste operator Encyclis.

Under the contract, AFRY will provide detailed engineering services covering steel structures and piping systems required to integrate the new carbon capture plant with an existing energy recovery facility. The scope of work includes mechanical and piping detail engineering, structural calculations, support systems and associated technical documentation.

The project forms part of the wider HyNet North West industrial decarbonisation cluster, one of the UK’s flagship carbon capture and hydrogen initiatives aimed at reducing industrial emissions across north-west England. The development is expected to become a landmark project for the country’s carbon capture industry by demonstrating the viability of large-scale carbon capture deployment within the waste-to-energy sector.

Once operational, the facility will capture substantial volumes of carbon dioxide generated during the waste-to-energy process, including both fossil-based and biogenic CO2 emissions. Capturing biogenic carbon dioxide is viewed as particularly important because it can contribute to negative emissions when combined with permanent carbon storage, helping accelerate progress towards net-zero targets.

The project highlights the growing role of carbon capture technology in hard-to-abate sectors where direct emissions reductions remain challenging. Waste-to-energy facilities are increasingly being viewed as strategic locations for carbon capture deployment due to their concentrated CO2 streams and potential to generate negative emissions from biogenic waste fractions.

Guy Skantze, Head of Segment Chemicals & Biorefining at AFRY, said the project demonstrates how carbon capture technology is moving from concept to full industrial-scale implementation. He noted that AFRY’s experience in complex industrial integration and energy infrastructure projects positions the company to support the successful delivery of the development in collaboration with project partners.

The award further strengthens AFRY’s presence in the rapidly expanding carbon capture market, where engineering expertise is becoming increasingly important as governments and industries accelerate investments in decarbonisation infrastructure. Across Europe, carbon capture projects are moving into the construction and execution phase as policymakers seek to meet climate targets while maintaining industrial competitiveness.

For the UK, the Encyclis and Kanadevia Inova project represents a significant step in establishing commercial-scale carbon capture within the waste management and energy recovery sectors. As part of the HyNet North West cluster, the facility is expected to contribute to wider regional efforts to create a low-carbon industrial hub supported by carbon capture, hydrogen production and clean energy infrastructure.

With construction and engineering activities progressing, the project is poised to become a flagship example of how carbon capture can be integrated into existing industrial facilities, helping reduce emissions while supporting the UK’s long-term net-zero ambitions.