Nuada and MLC will demonstrate advanced, low-energy carbon capture at Singleton Birch to cut unavoidable lime production emissions and support net-zero goals.
Nuada and MLC have entered into a strategic agreement to demonstrate a next-generation carbon capture system at MLC’s Singleton Birch lime manufacturing facility in Melton Ross, North Lincolnshire, United Kingdom. Under this collaboration, Nuada will deploy a demonstration-scale carbon capture unit at the site to assess how advanced capture technology can mitigate the unavoidable process emissions generated during lime production, particularly those linked to the calcination of limestone.
Lime manufacturing is widely recognized as a hard-to-abate industrial process because a significant proportion of its carbon dioxide emissions are inherent to the chemical reaction involved in converting limestone into lime. Even with improvements in energy efficiency or fuel switching, these process-related emissions cannot be eliminated entirely. The Nuada–MLC project aims to directly address this challenge by testing a technology designed specifically for such industrial realities.
The demonstration will produce detailed operational and performance data, which will be critical in shaping future large-scale carbon capture deployments across MLC’s wider operations. By validating the system in a real-world lime production environment, the project seeks to reduce technical and economic uncertainties that often slow the adoption of decarbonisation technologies in heavy industry. The insights gained are expected to support faster scaling of carbon capture solutions not only within MLC, but also across the broader lime and minerals sector.
Nuada’s carbon capture technology has been developed for industrial sites where conventional CO2 capture solutions are often limited by high energy consumption, large equipment footprints, and complex integration requirements. Its approach is based on advanced materials science linked to the research recognized by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This scientific foundation allows the system to capture carbon dioxide efficiently while requiring substantially less energy than traditional methods, making it particularly well suited for energy-intensive industries such as lime manufacturing.
According to Dr. Jose Casaban, co-CEO of Nuada, the deployment at Singleton Birch represents a key milestone in the journey toward commercially viable net-zero lime production. He noted that the collaboration demonstrates how innovative materials and engineering can unlock significant emissions reductions in one of the industrial sectors with substantial, yet largely untapped, carbon capture potential.
Singleton Birch is among the UK’s most established lime production facilities, supplying high-purity lime products to sectors including construction, metals, environmental protection, water treatment, and agriculture. Operated by MLC, the site plays a critical role in supporting essential downstream industries. As part of its broader sustainability strategy, MLC continues to invest in technologies that enhance emissions reduction, improve resource efficiency, and drive process innovation.
Fiona Woody, Director of Sustainability and ESG at MLC, emphasized that reducing the company’s carbon footprint is central to its long-term strategy. She reiterated MLC’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, highlighting that this goal will require sustained innovation, strong partnerships, and supportive infrastructure. Given that most emissions from lime manufacturing arise from the calcination process itself, she stressed that carbon capture and sequestration technologies offer the most impactful route to reducing the sector’s climate impact.
Overall, the Nuada–MLC collaboration supports both UK and international climate objectives by advancing practical industrial decarbonisation and establishing a credible technical pathway toward low-carbon and net-zero lime production.
