Scottish government approves Peterhead gas power station

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 19:32 · Archive

The Scottish Government has approved plans for a new 900 megawatt gas-fired power station at Peterhead with carbon capture technology.

The Scottish Government has approved plans for a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead, a joint venture between SSE and Norway's Equinor. The 900 megawatt facility will include carbon capture technology designed to remove over 90 per cent of CO2 from its emissions. It will be built alongside SSE's existing Peterhead power station, which has operated since 1982 and was previously expected to close by 2030 but has now been extended to at least the mid-2030s.

Developers estimate the new plant could support around 1,000 jobs during the construction phase, with dozens of permanent roles to operate the facility. A further report values the project at approximately £60 million to the north-east Scotland economy. SSE Thermal managing director Finlay McCutcheon said the decision was 'an important milestone for a project which has the potential to provide the flexible, low-carbon electricity needed to support a renewables-led energy system while creating and sustaining good jobs in the north-east of Scotland'.

Environmental campaigners have criticised the decision. Friends of the Earth Scotland insists the scheme locks Scotland into dependence on fossil fuels, and the existing Peterhead station is described as 'Scotland's largest source of climate pollution' by North East Scotland Green MSP Maggie Chapman. She said the government should be reducing its impact rather than expanding it.

How it is being reported

• New gas-fired power station at Peterhead is approvedThe controversial scheme will generate about 900 megawatts of electricity and includes provision for carbon capture but has sparked environmental concerns.BBC North East Orkney And Shetland · 27 Oct, 19:11
• New Peterhead gas-fired power station wins government approvalThe project will be worth millions to the north-east economy, but environmental campaigners say it's a backwards step.Press and Journal · 27 Oct, 17:18

In this story: Scottish Government · SSE · Equinor · Peterhead · Friends of the Earth Scotland · Maggie Chapman · Finlay McCutcheon

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log