Waste Meets Climate Action as Kanadevia Inova Scales Carbon Capture

Takeaways

• Kanadevia Inova is building the UK's first full-scale carbon capture system at a Waste-to-Energy facility, marking a major step in reducing emissions from waste management.
• The project is expected to capture around 370,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually and could make the Protos Energy Recovery Facility carbon negative.
• Following successful pilot projects, the company aims to expand its carbon capture technology to support decarbonization efforts in global Waste-to-Energy markets.

Swiss engineering company Kanadevia Inova is accelerating its efforts to reduce emissions from the Waste-to-Energy sector by moving ahead with its first commercial-scale carbon capture project in the United Kingdom. The initiative represents a significant milestone for an industry widely regarded as one of the most difficult to decarbonize.

Waste-to-Energy facilities play an important role by treating non-recyclable waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. However, burning waste also produces greenhouse gas emissions, creating a challenge for countries pursuing net-zero targets. As a result, carbon capture is increasingly being viewed as a practical solution for lowering emissions from these plants while allowing them to continue operating.

Read More: From Bottles to Climate Solution: Plastic Waste Becomes Carbon Capture Material

Kanadevia Inova is now taking this approach from pilot testing to full-scale deployment. According to the company, its technology has been developed to integrate with existing Waste-to-Energy infrastructure, allowing operators to reduce carbon emissions without making major changes to their plants.

The company's system is based on carbon capture technology known as amine scrubbing. During the process, flue gases pass through a solvent that absorbs carbon dioxide. The solvent is then heated to release concentrated CO₂, which can be compressed, purified and prepared either for permanent underground storage or future industrial applications. The solvent is reused in a continuous cycle, improving operational efficiency while limiting waste.

A major advantage of the technology is that it can be added to existing facilities rather than requiring entirely new plants. The company says the system is also designed to handle the varying composition of flue gases commonly found in Waste-to-Energy operations, helping maintain stable performance over time.

The company's flagship project is the Protos Energy Recovery Facility near Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Following a Notice to Proceed received in October 2025 from long-term partner Encyclis, Kanadevia Inova began work as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for what is expected to become the UK's first full-scale carbon capture installation at a Waste-to-Energy plant.

Once operational, the facility is designed to capture approximately 370,000 tonnes of CO₂ every year. The emissions include both fossil-based carbon and biogenic carbon released from organic materials such as food waste, paper, and wood. Capturing both streams is expected to help the facility move beyond net-zero emissions, potentially making it carbon negative.

The captured carbon dioxide will be transported through the HyNet Northwest network before being permanently stored in depleted gas reservoirs beneath Liverpool Bay. This combination of capture and long-term storage is central to the project's climate ambitions.

The Protos development builds on earlier demonstration projects at Ferrybridge and Rookery South Energy Recovery Facilities, where smaller mobile capture units provided operational data and helped refine the technology before commercial deployment. Construction is now underway, with project completion planned for mid-2029.

Also Read: Carbon Capture Market Forecast: Policy Shifts Fuel Global Growth

Looking ahead, Kanadevia Inova sees the UK project as a model for wider decarbonization efforts. As governments strengthen climate regulations and more Waste-to-Energy operators seek lower-emission solutions, the company believes its experience in scaling carbon capture from pilot plants to commercial operations positions it to serve growing international demand. The Protos project signals that turning waste into climate action is becoming an achievable reality rather than a future ambition.

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Source: WMW