PORT WELCOMES APPROVAL FOR SCOTTISH CLUSTER - AT LAST

ShowHide dashboard
  • Home
  • News
  • Port welcomes approval for Scottish Cluster - at last

The board of Peterhead Port Authority today welcomed approval by the UK Government for a huge carbon capture project in the North-east of Scotland.

PPA chief executive Simon Brebner said it was fantastic news – and a relief – that the project could finally get started, more than 15 years after a decarbonisation scheme was first mooted in the region.

“We’re delighted that, finally, after many false dawns and a significant time delay, the Acorn project and the wider Scottish Cluster will now be able to get to work and help the country reach net zero,” Mr Brebner said.

“This is the opportunity for the North-east of Scotland – including the critical facilities at Peterhead Port – to lead the world in this new and innovative technology. Others have been catching up fast, but we have the skills, expertise and ingenuity to lead the field globally.”

Based at St Fergus, the Acorn CCUS scheme will be critical if the UK is to reach its net zero targets by 2050.

Part of a Scottish-wide cluster, the scheme would take industrial emissions from the Central Belt – and imported CO2 from the continent shipped into Peterhead – and pump it permanently into depleted reservoirs in the North Sea.

Approval for the scheme has been long overdue with the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, having pledged £20bn of support for CCUS over the next two decades as part of a “clean energy reset” in his spring budget this year.

The Acorn project has been described as “shovel ready” and was hopeful of getting approval from the Government in 2021 but, surprisingly, missed out to two unexpected projects in the North of England.

Mr Brebner added: “We have to put the frustrations of the last few years behind us and now ready to forge ahead with this amazing chance to help decarbonise the UK with the huge skills and number of quality jobs this will bring to the region.

“Peterhead Port is ready and willing to be a key player in this futuristic but critical programme to ensure we meet our net zero targets and embrace the energy transition. It is a great boost for the town and the region.”

See Also

Our May newsletter

Our May newsletter

Our May newsletter
FIND OUT MORE
PPA seeks two new Board members

PPA seeks two new Board members

We are looking to appoint two members to the Board of Peterhead Port Authority.
FIND OUT MORE
Port supports school visit to Absafe

Port supports school visit to Absafe

Peterhead Port Authority is supporting Absafe, a charity aimed at promoting a safety culture in communities through educating schoolchildren in a fun way.
FIND OUT MORE
Record £200m fish landings

Record £200m fish landings

Fish landings at Peterhead topped £200 million for the first time ever last year, initial figures show.
FIND OUT MORE
Fuel trials dramatically reduce port vessel's carbon emissions

Fuel trials dramatically reduce port vessel's carbon emissions

Trials of a special fuel treatment on board one of Peterhead Port Authority’s harbour vessels have dramatically reduced its carbon emissions.
FIND OUT MORE
Temporary sea defences at fish market

Temporary sea defences at fish market

A temporary sea defence consisting of a series of containers is to be erected in front of Peterhead Fish Market.
FIND OUT MORE