Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline

Introduction

The Proposed Development would connect to the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline, a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project being developed by Liverpool Bay CCS Limited, (a member of the Eni SpA group), which was granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero in March 2024. ​The objectives of HyNet are to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industry and to support economic growth in the north west of England and north Wales. 

Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline

The Proposed Development is for the construction of a new Carbon Dioxide Spur Pipeline and Above Ground Installation (AGI) to serve Protos Resource Recovery Park. It would include:

• Protos (West) AGI: The AGI connects to the industrial emitter (Encyclis’s Energy Recovery Facility, ERF) and enables the safe and efficient operation of the pipeline, as well as routine inspections and maintenance. The AGI would be located within Plot 9b of the Protos Resource Recovery Park and would be approximately 55m x 33m in size. For more information about Above Ground Installations (AGI), please click here.

The AGI would include a control kiosk, which would house Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) equipment for distributing power and for control and monitoring of the system. In addition, associated infrastructure would be provided which would include above and below-ground auxiliary pipework and valves, instrumentation and sensors, cable trays, and electrical transformers.

• A predominantly buried pipeline, which would be approximately 0.7km in length. The pipeline would carry CO₂ and connect the Protos AGI to a similar AGI at Ince.

• An above ground pipe rack to facilitate the connection with the proposed Encyclis Carbon Capture Plant.

• Temporary Construction Compound(s) and temporary accesses.

The map below shows a broad red line area which covers the pipeline working corridor proposed for construction. 

Previous application – Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline

Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development is being developed as an alternative to Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, which Cheshire West and Chester Council Planning Committee recommended to grant the approval of in September 2024 (Reference 24/00777/ FUL).

The original preferred location for the Proposed Development’s Above Ground Installation (AGI) was within Plot 9b of the Protos Resources Recovery Park. However, when the original Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline planning application was being developed, the preferred piece of land was committed to other projects and not available, so the Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline planning application was submitted utilising a small parcel of greenfield land set back from Marsh Lane as the location for the AGI.  The original preferred land then became available late in the previous planning application process.

Having assessed the benefits and challenges of executing the project against the original application (with the Protos East AGI location off Marsh Lane) versus making a new application to use the original preferred location (the Protos West AGI location on Protos Recovery Park), it was decided that submitting a new application would have a positive impact on the project – benefitting the local community and reducing project risks.

You can find out more about our original proposals for Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development here>

The Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development would route south from the new AGI location towards Ince AGI, resulting in a reduction in the length of the spur pipeline. The change in AGI location offers several advantages to the local community and to the Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development.

The buried portion of the Spur Pipeline routing south from the new west AGI remains exactly the same as per the original East AGI spur pipeline application.

Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline benefits

	Reduced impact on the local community:  A shorter pipeline, reducing construction time and associated potential impacts on neighbouring communities, businesses and the environment.  Fewer materials will need to be transported to the site, meaning there will be a reduced impact on people who use Marsh Lane. A shorter pipeline means a reduction in construction requirements, which could reduce the overall project budget, providing a more cost-effective solution for the Government.		Closer integration with other facilities: By situating the AGI within the Protos Resource Recovery Park, Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline benefits from closer integration with other facilities and infrastructure within the park. It also provides better opportunities for future integration with additional CCS projects or other industrial activities.
	Minimising environmental footprint: The use of a brownfield site for the AGI minimises the environmental footprint of the Proposed Development compared to the use of a greenfield site.		Reduced dependency on third parties: Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline would be simpler to construct and operate than Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline, since it does not need to pass through the Encyclis Carbon Capture Plant. This reduces risk and the potential for project delays.