Plans for a new £78 million zero carbon energy generation facility in County Durham submitted by Hedley Planning Services for Landmark Power Holdings have been approved.

The facility at Mill Hill in Peterlee is designed to capture and reuse CO₂ from the nearby energy generation plant and could come on stream in 2024.

Landmark Power holdings specialise in carbon neutral energy that enables more sustainable energy production and contribute to a circular economy in energy production. At the facility captured carbon will be converted to food grade CO₂ as well as solid state carbon, both commercial products with multiple industrial uses. This comes at an important time as the shutdown of fertiliser plants in the North East raises concerns over the country’s supply of CO₂.

Considered to be one of the first of its type in the world, the development of a carbon capture and research and development plant is expected to employ 10 people. Creating jobs, securing new investment and supporting the North East’s emerging position at the forefront of innovation in new sustainable and greener technologies.

The project taps straight into the Government’s agenda for increased investment in sustainable technologies which will help to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 while also increasing the area’s energy security.

Findings from this project could lead to the emissions from hundreds of decentralised high carbon emitting projects across the country being able to be captured and stored or utilised in an efficient and clean manner. With the government’s focus on CCUS at large industrial hubs, Landmark Power Holdings are independently working towards capturing the hard to reach and often overlooked emissions from small emitters.

The carbon capture plant will occupy a 0.95ha site on land at the North West Industrial Estate off the A19 main road. Sean Hedley said: “Developing carbon capture facilities such as the Mill Hill is important if we are to meet our commitment to solving the climate crisis. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is critical for not only meeting the country’s statutory emissions reduction targets, but those right across the UK. After all, it signals another exciting new industry for the birthplace of the first Industrial Revolution.”