Why does Scotland require a new fossil fuel power plant?
What is the Peterhead Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project?
Peterhead is a town in north-east Scotland with an existing gas-fired power station that has been operational since the late 1980s. The current plans involve proposals to either upgrade or replace parts of the power infrastructure at Peterhead with a new fossil fuel power plant that incorporates carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
This new project is intended to be a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant powered by natural gas, designed to capture a significant portion of its CO₂ emissions and store them underground.
Campaigners call for the rejection of the plant (Image: Friends of the Earth Scotland) The Peterhead CCS project, is a collaboration between SSE Thermal and Equinor, and aims to develop a new 910 MW gas-fired power station which would have technology to remove CO₂ annually from emissions, storing it in an Acorn offshore storage site approximately 100 km off the coast. The project is part of the Scottish Cluster initiative, which seeks to establish a low-carbon industrial hub in the region.
What exactly is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?
CCS is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from power plants or industrial sites before they are released into the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ is then compressed, transported, and stored deep underground in geological formations such as depleted oil and gas fields or saline aquifers.
READ MORE:
The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels by preventing CO₂ from contributing to climate change.
Why is this project considered controversial?
Critics argue that investing in new gas infrastructure may lock Scotland into fossil fuel reliance for decades, potentially hindering progress towards net-zero emissions.
The project has been criticised for potentially conflicting with Scotland's climate commitments, with some arguing that it may divert resources from renewable energy initiatives.
They have also questioned the legitimacy of its 'green' credentials with opponents, saying no carbon capture and storage (CCS) scheme has ever consistently trapped 90% of the carbon it creates as claimed.
Research by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, commissioned by environmental groups has questioned the effectiveness of CCS technology in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector.
Critics say CCS is still costly complex and unproven at large scale.
The project has received millions in public money which some believe would be better spent on renewables and energy efficiency.
What are the potential environmental risks of CCS at Peterhead?
Opponents have warned that if stored CO₂ escapes, it could undermine climate benefits and pose risks to humans and ecosystems.
Opponents also claim injecting CO₂ underground could trigger minor earthquakes.
Long-term monitoring is required to ensure storage sites remain secure for centuries.
There are concerns offshore pipelines and injection could affect marine habitats.
What are the expected benefits of the project?
Advocates of the Peterhead CCS project say the development and construction phases are expected to support approximately 980 years of employment, with around 240 jobs sustained annually during operation.
An estimated £60 million was projected to be contributed to the Aberdeen City and shire economy during development and construction, with £25 million added annually during the operational phase.
Advocates say the plant would provide flexible, low-carbon electricity, complementing intermittent renewable sources and enhancing grid stability.
And by capturing and storing CO₂ emissions, the project aims to cut the carbon footprint of the power sector.
Energy firm SSE says the new Peterhead power station will be built so that more than 90% of the carbon it creates through burning gas can be captured and stored.
And the likes of the Dundee-born chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Prof Jim Skea, has argued that CCS has an important role to play in energy generation.
What is the current status of the project?
The Scottish Government is expected to make a final decision on the planning application at some point with consultations and environmental assessments ongoing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
11-06-2025
- STV News
A mighty industry may grow from Acorn project after UK Government backing
There's an old saying that 'mighty oaks from little acorns grow'. For years now, backers of a carbon capture and storage (CCUS) site in Scotland believe a mighty industry is set to grow from the Acorn project in the north east of Scotland. The site would take emissions from industrial sites in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK and store them under the North Sea, to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. On Wednesday, after years of 'will it, won't it', the UK Government finally gave its backing to the project at the site of the gas terminal at St Fergus in Aberdeenshire. As part of the spending review by the chancellor, Acorn, along with another site in England known as Viking, will now be given the green light. However, exactly how much Acorn will get is still to be revealed. The UK Government does say it will provide £9.4bn of funding for CCUS over the course of this parliament. That money though looks like it will mainly go to helping advance two sites already given the go-ahead in England. Acorn will get 'development funding to advance their delivery' according to the Treasury. Crucially too, as is often the case, Treasury documents also say about Acorn, 'A final investment decision will be taken later this Parliament, subject to project readiness and affordability.' The Acorn project will take the greenhouse gases created through industrial processes. Repurposed pipelines and ships will take CO2 from places like Grangemouth to the Acorn site in the north east of Scotland. From there, the CO2 will then be transported by old pipelines around 100km offshore and stored around 2.5km under the seabed. The CO2 is stored below a seal of rocks to prevent the emissions from escaping. The project has become something of a political football. The Scottish Government has long called for the UK Government to give its full backing to Acorn. It has previously said it would support the site and the wider 'Scottish Cluster', which includes Grangemouth with funding, but wanted the UK Government to back it too. Acorn previously failed to get full backing from the Government, in what was known as 'Track-1' status. It was instead given 'reserve status'. Two sites in England were given the go-ahead instead and in October last year the UK Government said it would back those projects with nearly £22bn of funding over the next 25 years. In response to the announcement, the SNP have accused 'successive Westminster governments' of dragging 'their heels on Acorn.' The 'Scottish Cluster' includes Grangemouth, where of course there have been hundreds of job losses. It's unclear what that means for the scale of the Acorn project. Those behind Acorn though are pleased that finally they've been given UK Government support. Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce today said Acorn can, 'Unlock £7bn in private investment, to protect and create thousands of high value jobs, and to support our supply chain through the transition.' However, environmental campaigners have accused CCUS of 'greenwashing'. Friends of the Earth Scotland say Acorn is 'a fossil fuel polluters pipe dream and will never live up to the hype'. Either way, Wednesday's news has been a long time in the making. There has been talk about Carbon Capture and Storage in Scotland for well over a decade. The announcement today may take it one step closer, but it is far from a done deal yet. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
11-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Why does Scotland require a new fossil fuel power plant?
Friends of the Earth Scotland has said that the Peterhead project must be stopped after new environmental assessments show that lifetime pollution from the site, which includes the power station and the construction works, is set to rise from an original estimate from 2022 of 6.3m tonnes of CO2e carbon dioxide equivalent) to 17.1m tonnes. What is the Peterhead Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project? Peterhead is a town in north-east Scotland with an existing gas-fired power station that has been operational since the late 1980s. The current plans involve proposals to either upgrade or replace parts of the power infrastructure at Peterhead with a new fossil fuel power plant that incorporates carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. This new project is intended to be a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant powered by natural gas, designed to capture a significant portion of its CO₂ emissions and store them underground. Campaigners call for the rejection of the plant (Image: Friends of the Earth Scotland) The Peterhead CCS project, is a collaboration between SSE Thermal and Equinor, and aims to develop a new 910 MW gas-fired power station which would have technology to remove CO₂ annually from emissions, storing it in an Acorn offshore storage site approximately 100 km off the coast. The project is part of the Scottish Cluster initiative, which seeks to establish a low-carbon industrial hub in the region. What exactly is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)? CCS is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from power plants or industrial sites before they are released into the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ is then compressed, transported, and stored deep underground in geological formations such as depleted oil and gas fields or saline aquifers. READ MORE: The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels by preventing CO₂ from contributing to climate change. Why is this project considered controversial? Critics argue that investing in new gas infrastructure may lock Scotland into fossil fuel reliance for decades, potentially hindering progress towards net-zero emissions. The project has been criticised for potentially conflicting with Scotland's climate commitments, with some arguing that it may divert resources from renewable energy initiatives. They have also questioned the legitimacy of its 'green' credentials with opponents, saying no carbon capture and storage (CCS) scheme has ever consistently trapped 90% of the carbon it creates as claimed. Research by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, commissioned by environmental groups has questioned the effectiveness of CCS technology in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector. Critics say CCS is still costly complex and unproven at large scale. The project has received millions in public money which some believe would be better spent on renewables and energy efficiency. What are the potential environmental risks of CCS at Peterhead? Opponents have warned that if stored CO₂ escapes, it could undermine climate benefits and pose risks to humans and ecosystems. Opponents also claim injecting CO₂ underground could trigger minor earthquakes. Long-term monitoring is required to ensure storage sites remain secure for centuries. There are concerns offshore pipelines and injection could affect marine habitats. What are the expected benefits of the project? Advocates of the Peterhead CCS project say the development and construction phases are expected to support approximately 980 years of employment, with around 240 jobs sustained annually during operation. An estimated £60 million was projected to be contributed to the Aberdeen City and shire economy during development and construction, with £25 million added annually during the operational phase. Advocates say the plant would provide flexible, low-carbon electricity, complementing intermittent renewable sources and enhancing grid stability. And by capturing and storing CO₂ emissions, the project aims to cut the carbon footprint of the power sector. Energy firm SSE says the new Peterhead power station will be built so that more than 90% of the carbon it creates through burning gas can be captured and stored. And the likes of the Dundee-born chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Prof Jim Skea, has argued that CCS has an important role to play in energy generation. What is the current status of the project? The Scottish Government is expected to make a final decision on the planning application at some point with consultations and environmental assessments ongoing.
The Guardian
05-06-2025
- The Guardian
British Gas owner strikes £20bn gas deal with Norway's state energy company
The owner of British Gas has struck a £20bn deal with Norway's state energy company to buy enough gas to meet nearly 10% of the UK's needs for the next decade. Under the agreement, Centrica will buy around 5bn cubic meters (bcm) of gas from Equinor – enough to supply 5m UK homes – every year from this winter until 2035 at the prevailing market rate. It is the latest long-term deal between the UK and Norway, which has been one of Britain's largest sources of imported gas for the last 50 years. But in a nod to Britain's net zero agenda, the latest agreement will include a clause that allows the UK to swap gas imports for emissions-free hydrogen from Equinor's UK hydrogen plant. Equinor is working with Centrica and the energy company SSE on multiple low carbon hydrogen projects on the north bank of the Humber. Equinor's plans to develop a 'pathfinder' hydrogen project at the existing Aldbrough gas storage facility in East Yorkshire alongside SSE could be operational by 2029. Britain currently imports nearly two-thirds of its gas requirements from Norway, although the UK's demand for gas fell to record lows last year due to a steady rise in renewable energy output and increased power imports from Europe. The UK's gas demand is expected to tumble in the decade ahead as the government's net zero policies further reduce the need for gas power plants and help homes and businesses choose electric alternatives to fossil fuels. Chris O'Shea, the chief executive of Centrica, said the 'landmark agreement' underscored the 'vital role' for gas in securing the UK's energy supplies as it moves towards a low carbon future. He added it would also pave the way 'for a burgeoning hydrogen market'. The deal is smaller than the last decade-long agreement struck between the pair in 2015, when the Centrica agreed to buy about 7.3bn cubic metres of gas each year from Equinor, which, at the time, was also about 10% of the UK's total gas demand. Centrica agreed to a top-up deal after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which wiped out Russia's pipeline gas exports to Europe, to more than 10bn cubic metres a year, or about 12% of Britain's total gas demand. The government's official climate adviser, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), has forecast a steep fall in the UK's demand for gas in the years ahead as it moves towards a net zero economy by 2050. Gas currently makes up 720TWh, or almost 40%, of the UK's primary energy demand according to the CCC's carbon budgets, but this will need to fall to 168TWh or less than 15% of primary energy demand by 2050 if the UK hopes to keep within its carbon budgets. Currently about 70% of homes are heated using gas boilers, while gas-fired power plants account for around a quarter of the country's electricity supply. The government hopes ambitious targets to install up to 600,000 electric heat pumps in homes every year and keep gas plants for use only 5% of the time in the 2030s will help cut the country's reliance on gas.
