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  4. Capturing carbon by the tonne

WSP is providing environmental assessment, infrastructure planning and pre-FEED engineering advice to Cory Environmental Holdings Ltd. (Cory) in their development of a proposed carbon capture project situated in Belvedere in East London.

Location

  • London, United Kingdom

Client

  • Cory Environmental Holdings Ltd.

Project Status

  • Under construction

 Waste management company Cory plan to apply carbon capture technology to the UK’s largest single-site energy-from-waste operation, with the potential to create the world’s largest single-site energy-from-waste decarbonisation project.

By 2030, the site on the shores of the River Thames could deliver 1.4 million tonnes of CO2 savings per annum – providing a significant contribution to reducing the carbon emissions of several million communities in London and the South East.

The scheme proposes to install carbon capture technology at both of Cory’s energy-from-waste facilities in Belvedere, Riverside 1 and Riverside 2.

Supporting infrastructure as part of the proposals also includes a new export jetty, pipeline and duct corridor routing and connections between facilities that will enable captured CO2 to be transported by ship for safe storage in the North Sea.

Tonnes of CO2 per annum captured as part of the plan
1.4m
Tonnes of CO2 captured per day
4,000
Both facilities are intended to be fully operational
2030
We know that we need to reduce our carbon impact and get to net zero. Installing carbon capture and storage technology is recognised as being the best approach for EfW facilities to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.

New ways to power our communities, the feasibility of carbon capture

Using extensive engineering and design expertise and experience, our WSP team undertook a full feasibility study for the project on behalf of Cory. This included examining options for carbon capture, and the transportation of captured CO2.

We worked with Cory to identify and appraise options for the location of the carbon capture facility. This enabled Cory to understand the viability and risks associated with carbon capture technologies, as well as to make informed decisions on programme delivery, for example the investment needed and the land required.

We utilised international and UK expertise on carbon capture and related specialist sectors to inform our advice. For example, using maritime expertise to support Cory in understanding the opportunity to transport liquified captured carbon via marine shipment to depleted subsea storage in the North Sea.

An aerial impression of the Cory site following the installation of carbon capture technology. (Copyright Cory)
Our global carbon capture and storage experience from North America and Australasia was critical in enabling us to advise Cory on an innovative solution for delivering the technology for their energy-from-waste facility in the UK.

An artist’s impression of the River Thames path following the installation of carbon capture technology at the site. (Copyright Cory)

Planning and consent advice for the Development Consent Order (DCO)

The project requires planning consent from the UK Government through a Development Consent Order (DCO) application. WSP provided a nationally mobile team, led by local experts to prepare all planning requirements and undertake the environmental impact assessment, surveys, and land referencing.

This has involved working at speed and with agility to respond to the needs of the client, including the assessment of multiple siting and design options. Our specialist environmental experts were also on hand to support with the coordination of specialist land and aquatic surveys.


The DCO application requires consultation with communities and statutory and non-statutory consultees. WSP prepared the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) to provide statutory bodies with an update on the environmental impact assessment process and to prepare for the Environmental Statement.

The six-week consultation on plans for the project was launched by Cory in October 2023 to showcase plans to statutory consultees and local communities. This enabled feedback to be incorporated into the final DCO application which was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in early 2024.

The DCO was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate in April 2024. WSP is supporting Cory during the examination period, which will then inform recommendations to the Secretary of State who will make the decision.

Developing a planning application for an emerging technology like carbon capture requires flexibility and agility. Our goal was to provide certainty around planning, allowing Cory to communicate the benefits, while also mitigating impact and risk.

Together we create… new ways to power communities

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