Evero to Develop UK’s First Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage Project
By Daisy Moll
Evero, a low-carbon, energy-from-waste wood company, has been selected by the government to develop the nation’s first commercial Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) facility.
Net-zero emissions targets are at the centre of long-term environmental and industrial strategies. In the UK, the legally binding commitment to achieve net zero by 2050 is reshaping how the country produces energy, manages waste, and drives economic growth.
Successive governments have launched a suite of initiatives to deliver this goal, from carbon pricing under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to landmark policies like the 2025 Industrial Strategy and the creation of Great British Energy, which aims to accelerate large-scale renewable projects. Yet despite measurable progress, particularly in the power sector , a significant gap remains: nearly 40% of the cuts needed to meet the 2030 target are still classified as high-risk or insufficiently planned, according to the 2025 Climate Change Committee progress report. Bridging this gap will require not just reducing emissions but also investing in technologies that actively remove carbon from the atmosphere.
What is carbon capture?
CCS captures CO₂ from industrial processes and either stores it deep underground or uses it in products, preventing it from contributing to climate change. When paired with bioenergy, the result is a negative emissions process, one that aims to remove more carbon than it releases. This is vital for sectors like cement, chemicals, and waste, which are difficult to fully decarbonise through electrification alone.
The UK is Investing heavily in CCS and BECCS as part of its net-zero toolkit, backing large regional clusters like HyNet North West, the East Coast Cluster, and Acorn in Scotland to provide shared infrastructure for capture, transport, and long-term storage of CO₂. New approaches such as Direct Air Capture, biochar, and even enhanced rock weathering are also being explored, and BECCS remains one of the most immediate and scalable options.
Against this backdrop, the government’s selection of Evero’s InBECCS project marks a crucial milestone. Situated within the HyNet region, the plant is poised to set a national precedent for integrating waste-to-energy systems with high-integrity carbon removals, powering homes while helping secure the UK’s net-zero future.
The plant will be developed at Evero’s existing site in Ince, Cheshire, and is one of just two projects selected for negotiation under the Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero’s Project Negotiation List. If approved, it will permanently remove 217,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually while continuing to supply clean electricity to the grid.
The facility will be retrofitted with carbon capture technology developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, integrated into the HyNet Cluster, the UK’s flagship low-carbon industrial zone spanning the North West and North Wales.
“This project marks the next step in Evero’s strategy to deliver BECCS-based greenhouse gas removals from multiple waste wood sites across the UK. We’re proud to pioneer this new model — one that supports clean energy, removes CO₂ from the atmosphere, and opens the door to wider collaboration beyond our existing portfolio” said Elliot Renton, CEO of Evero.
A model for scalable carbon removals
Evero’s approach combines waste wood bioenergy with carbon capture, creating a negative emissions solution that simultaneously supports the circular economy. The InBECCS facility will process approximately 170,000 tonnes of domestic waste wood annually, including offcuts from furniture and construction, that would otherwise be sent to landfill or incineration.
In parallel, it will generate renewable power for over 100,000 homes and businesses, offering a rare convergence of energy security, emissions reductions, and waste diversion.
Evero’s selection into the negotiation phase signals growing confidence in the viability of bioenergy-based removals as part of a broader green industrial strategy.
Unlocking Carbon Capture Infrastructure
Integration into the HyNet transport and storage network gives Evero a competitive advantage, enabling the efficient movement of captured CO₂ to permanent geological storage under the Irish Sea. This leverages existing infrastructure investments and helps maximise the economic case for scaling BECCS.
“We are securing the jobs of the future, the power for our homes and the protection of our planet by becoming world leaders on carbon capture and storage,” said Industry Minister Sarah Jones. “These new projects will bring industrial renewal, unlock growth and secure an additional 800 skilled jobs across North Wales and the North West.”
Once operational, InBECCS would become the first UK project to deliver under the government’s Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGR) Business Model, offering a framework for funding verified carbon removals alongside traditional energy services.
“It’s fantastic to see Evero’s InBECCS project confirmed as part of the expansion of HyNet,” said Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA. “This is on track to be a pathfinder for the entire sector. To meet our climate targets, we need to scale large, integrated CCUS clusters — and fast.”
Evero’s long-term ambition is to roll out BECCS across its broader portfolio of sites. Currently, the company processes 375,000 tonnes of waste wood annually, converting it into energy for approximately 125,000 homes and businesses. By 2029, Evero plans to integrate carbon capture across its fleet, with the potential to sequester up to 670,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
This article has been republished from The Sustainable Times.