Project plans
If consented and developed the new power station is currently expected to include: A new combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station capable of providing up to a likely maximum of 1.38 GW of low carbon power:
- Carbon capture technology to enable carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the CCGT to be captured;
- A connection to nearby CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure as part of the HyNet industrial cluster.
The proposed changes: Change Consultation from Wednesday 21 January to Wednesday 18 February 2026
Stack height changes
Both the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) and Carbon Capture Plant (CCP) components of the proposed new power station will feature stacks to vent waste gases produced during combustion safely into the atmosphere.
Since we submitted our DCO application for Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power in August 2025, we have continued with our detailed design developments and refinement, while also continuing to engage with stakeholders and interested parties.
In our original DCO application, our proposed design was for the absorber emissions stack and a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) stack to be at a height of 150m in order to minimise any potential negative effects, which was based on the design information available at the time.
As we continue to work on the project, the technical solution has continued to mature. The progress made with our design means that acceptable environmental impacts in all scenarios, including when the CCGT is operating without the carbon capture plant, can be achieved with the stack heights reduced.
The proposed maximum stack heights are now 145m for the CCP absorber stacks and 130m for the HRSG stacks. This is slightly lower than the proposed 150m (for both) we consulted on at our targeted consultation in May 2025 although higher than the 120m and 85m originally proposed in our initial design proposal at Statutory Consultation.
This also meets the need for a decrease in the maximum stack height parameters identified by further engagement with our stakeholders including Airbus Operations Limited.
This is to ensure the proposed new power station does not infringe the Outer Horizontal Surface (OHS) Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) associated with aviation safety of Hawarden Aerodrome.
We have completed updated modelling of operational emissions to confirm that the stack heights can be reduced to the new height proposed without introducing any new or different likely significant environmental effects.
CQLCP would be designed so that the emissions produced by the plant and discharged into the air, comply with the emissions limits set and regulated by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) through an Environmental Permit required for the operation of the facility.
Land designation adjustment
There are seven areas within the existing Connah’s Quay power station’s operational fence line, which were originally designated as ‘retained habitat’ in our DCO application. Retained habitat means habitat that will remain in place after development. It does not imply that the habitat is high quality, important, or ecologically sensitive. These seven areas are habitats of low ecological value composed of grassland and mixed scrub, with limited connectivity to the wider ecological network.
Based on a detailed review of current and future operational needs, it is no longer possible to assign the ‘retained habitat’ designation to these areas of land. This is because six of these parcels of land are essential for routine activities, for day-to-day operation and maintenance of the existing power station. One area is required to accommodate the relocated contractor facilities to service the existing power station.
Retaining these habitats would therefore unduly restrict the efficient functioning of the existing power station. To prevent such constraints, the proposal is to reclassify these seven parcels from ‘retained habitat’ to ‘permanent habitat loss’ within the site’s operational boundary, due to their low ecological value and operational necessity.
Relocation of existing contractors’ facilities
A number of existing contractor facilities are housed in temporary modular structures on the Connah’s Quay power station site, which need to be relocated to a more suitable location within the Order Limits. This change is needed, because the area originally identified in the DCO (Development Consent Order) application within the Main Development Area cannot accommodate all the necessary facilities. Therefore, a new location within the Order Limits has been identified as the only practical site that meets both operational and access needs for the ongoing functioning of the power station.
Proposed hardstanding expansion at Connah’s Quay North Jetty
The proposed change is for a permanent extension to the existing area of hardstanding at Connah’s Quay North Jetty to support the handling and temporary storage of larger equipment deliveries via the waterways, for the construction of the proposed new CCGT power station with carbon capture.
The Connah’s Quay North Jetty is the closest port to the proposed CQLCP main development site. It was included in our DCO application as the designated port to receive Abnormal Indivisible Loads (AILs) via water transport of pre-built components for the new power station, such as major parts for the gas turbines or carbon capture plant. Using this port will reduce road transport distances, avoid routing such loads through alternative ports such as Mostyn or Ellesmere Port, and prevent the need for additional highway works that might otherwise be triggered by abnormal load movements from those locations.
Further assessments have been undertaken as part of the ongoing Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) process, which have identified the need for an additional area of temporary hard standing at Connah’s Quay North Jetty. The area of hardstanding previously established and included within our DCO application, whilst being able to support delivery of large plant items, may not allow for the most efficient delivery and unloading of components delivered by water. In particular, by including this additional area, there are more options available with respect to the type of vehicles which could be used for delivery and ro-ro (roll-on, roll-off) vehicles, providing maximum flexibility to manoeuvre Abnormal Indivisible Loads (AILs).
In total, this change requires an amendment to the Order Limits and introduces an additional 0.21 ha of permanent land use.
This would allow for equipment to be offloaded efficiently and provide maximum flexibility to manoeuvre Abnormal Indivisible Loads (AILs) when being offloaded from a barge onto the quay, especially when the tide is changing port-side.
Once the construction phase of CQLCP and associated deliveries are completed, the area would be vacated by Uniper and made available for future use by the landowner, Tata Steel UK Limited.
Further details on the above design changes, as well as further proposed changes on the reduction of land acquisition powers and the alignment of CO2 connection corridor landscape plan with the HyNet CO2 pipeline project, can be found in the consultation newsletter here.
What is carbon capture and storage?
CCS is a key part of the process to reduce carbon emissions in energy generation. It involves the removal and capture of CO2 from power plant emissions, transporting it away to be securely stored underground, often in aquifers or depleted oil and gas fields.
The plant design will incorporate post-combustion carbon capture technology, capable of capturing at least 95% of CO2 emissions produced.
CCS is a technology that has been in safe operation for a number of years, for example at the Sleipner CO2 storage project in Norway established in 1996.
The project plans
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