URGENT WE NEED YOUR HELP - PLEASE OPPOSE THE CONNAH'S QUAY POWER STATION / CCS / HYNET PROJECT
Dear Supporters,
URGENT – WE NEED YOUR HELP – IT TAKES 10 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME – PLEASE EMAIL THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO – TEMPLATE EMAIL INCLUDED BELOW
The Connah’s Quay “Low Carbon” Power Project is a proposal by Uniper UK Ltd to construct a CCGT (combined-cycle gas turbine i.e. natural gas powered) power station in Connah’s Key. Uniper call this proposal “low carbon” because it integrates a CCGT system with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. This system is designed to capture up to 95% of its carbon dioxide emissions, which will then be piped for storage in the depleted offshore gas fields in Liverpool Bay via the HYNET CO2 pipeline. (HYNET is the baby brother of PEAK CLUSTER and is being constructed by the same company, Progressive Energy)
According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has a poor efficiency and performance record. Across the reviewed flagship projects, net carbon capture routinely falls well short of advertised 95% claims, averaging closer to 50%, with no major project consistently capturing over 80%. This could mean that the proposed Connah’s Quay Power Station could potentially pump 20 to 50% of its carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
Whilst recognising the importance of energy security and reducing carbon emissions, we believe this power station development poses unacceptable risks to the environment, local communities and the environmentally sensitive and internationally significant Dee Estuary Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Wetland of International Importance (RAMSAR site).
The Planning Inspectorate has completed its public examination of the proposals and submitted its report in September 2026 to Mattia Fahnbulleh MP, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who will make the final decision on whether to approve the DCO (Development Consent Order) for the project.
Natural Resources Wales, Natural England and Flintshire County Council all told the Planning Inspectorate that Uniper’s plans for limiting damage to wildlife and habitat were not good enough.
On 8th October 2026, DESNZ wrote to a number of statutory consultees requesting further information. The letter to the statutory consultees can be read here:
In summary, the letter requests various information about the following:
· impacts on atmospheric pollution, including ammonia emissions
· impacts on bird flight lines and noise disturbance on the Dee Estuary
· impact of barge movements on benthic (sediment and subsurface) habitats that support the invertebrates etc on which the bird populations feed
· the effect of nitrogen deposition on the Atlantic salt meadow habitat and compensatory measures for the impacts of Atlantic salt meadow habitat loss
· saltmarsh soil storage and reinstatement
· the functional linkage (i.e relationship and dependency) between the main development area and Curlews (a red listed bird of conservation concern)
· increased nitrogen deposition effect on the old sessile oak woods of the Deeside and Buckley Newt Sites SAC
· the effects of waterborne pollution
Further information about Flintshire County Council’s concerns can be read here:
https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/26183327.councils-concerns-connahs-quay-low-carbon-power-plant/
Please email your comments and concerns to both the Planning Inspectorate (via ConnahsQuay@planninginspectorate.gov.uk ) and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (Minister.fahnbulleh@energysecurity.gov.uk and Secretary.State@energysecurity.gov.uk )
A suggested email is provided below, please amend / edit / add your own words as you see fit.
“Dear Secretary of State DESNZ / Planning Inspectorate
I am writing to object to the proposed DCO for the proposed Connah’s Quay “Low Carbon” Power Project. I believe this project poses unacceptable risks to local communities, the environment and, in particular, the internationally important River Dee Estuary RAMSAR site, SPA, SAC and SSSI.
The Developer’s claims of 95% carbon capture rate should be challenged. Studies by IEEFA (the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis) have found that no CCS project has ever achieved a consistent capture rate of 80% with the average being 50%, which could lead to significantly higher than claimed carbon emissions into the atmosphere. This debunks Uniper’s claims of this being a “low carbon” project.
I am concerned about the air pollutants that will be emitted from this project, including ammonia and nitrogen emissions. I am concerned about their impacts on the local communities and the River Dee Estuary, particularly in combination with several other nearby industrial projects such as the Parc Adfer waste processing plant which is also proposing to expand.
I object to the unacceptable damage to the internationally protected River Dee Estuary.
In particular, I am concerned about the nitrogen effects on the salt marsh, with nitrogen levels in the river Dee already above safe levels. The proposed mitigation measures are completely inadequate.
I am extremely concerned about the impact the project will have on Curlews which are red-listed birds of conservation concern. Breeding Curlews have dropped 80% since the 1990s. The RSPB and National Resources Wales have expressed significant concerns about Uniper’s proposed replacement Curlew habitat. There are serious concerns as to whether the curlew mitigation measures will actually work.
I urge you to refuse the Development Consent Order for this project.
Kind regards
Name etc”
The closing date to send in your objections is Thursday 29th October 2026
Thank you for your support