‘Train to Zero’ will use rail route for captured carbon

‘Train to Zero’ is a collaboration between waste-to-energy firm efinium and Navigator Terminals, a bulk liquid storage provider. The project will see CO2 from enfinium’s flagship Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire incinerator captured and transported to Navigator’s Teesside storage facility. According to the partners, the CO2 would then be transported offshore for permanent storage. Engineering and project management firm Bechtel will support the feasibility work underpinning the concept.

“Our facility at Ferrybridge is the single largest energy from waste site in the UK and transforms non-recyclable waste into homegrown energy to power nearly 400,000 British homes,” said Mike Maudsley, CEO of enfinium.

“By installing carbon capture technology at Ferrybridge we could go one step further and remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than we release. In doing so we could generate carbon negative electricity, support Yorkshire’s climate change targets and deliver high-quality jobs in an exciting new green industry.”

It is claimed the the Ferrybridge site could ultimately generate around 700,000 tonnes of negative emissions each year. To remain on track for net zero, the UK government has set a target to deliver 23 million tonnes of negative emissions per year by 2035. In the Chancellor’s spring statement on March 15, it was announced that the scale-up of the UK carbon capture and storage industry will be supported by up to £20bn of investment.

“The UK is a world leader in decarbonisation solutions, but it is clear that there is a need to develop alternative transportation and storage solutions for CO2 if we are to meet the country’s net zero ambitions,” said Jason Hornsby, CEO of Navigator Terminals.

“We have worked with enfinium to explore the opportunities for them to realise their decarbonisation plans by harnessing the rail network in the North East and connecting with our Terminal on Teesside before permanent sequestration of the carbon. This is an exciting UK first project, and we hope it can prove the concept of carbon transportation by rail opening up huge potential for further decarbonisaiton of British industry.”