The Climate Change Working Group of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council met on Wednesday, 12 June 2024, to discuss the Peak Cluster Project, a significant initiative aimed at reducing carbon emissions from cement and lime facilities in Staffordshire and Derbyshire. The group received a detailed presentation from John Egan, Project Director of Progressive Energy Ltd, outlining the project's scope, challenges, and future plans.

Peak Cluster Project

John Egan, Project Director of Progressive Energy Ltd, presented the Peak Cluster Project, which targets the decarbonisation of cement and lime facilities in Staffordshire and Derbyshire. These facilities produce 40% of the UK's lime and cement and emit 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, accounting for over 23% of emissions in the region.

Egan explained that the project involves building carbon capture plants at five major cement and lime sites. These plants will capture carbon dioxide from flue gas before it is released into the atmosphere. The captured carbon dioxide will then be transported via pipeline to depleted gas fields beneath the Irish Sea for storage. The project aims to be operational by 2030.

The group discussed various aspects of the project, including the stability and ecological impact of the Irish Sea storage sites, planning arrangements for the carbon capture plants, and the economic and regulatory factors influencing the project's viability. Opportunities for Biodiversity Net Gain and how these might be integrated into the Council’s Plan For Nature were also considered.

Egan emphasised the importance of public consultations, stating that Progressive Energy would engage with local authorities, statutory bodies, landowners, and the public. He noted that due to the project's national significance, permission would be sought from the Secretary of State rather than the Local Planning Authority.

The group expressed their gratitude for the presentation and resolved to note it with thanks.

For more details, you can refer to the Previous Draft Minutes 240424 and the Public reports pack 12th-Jun-2024 18.00 Climate Change Working Group SMDC.