Campaigners urge Scot Gov to reject new Peterhead gas plant

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

17.1 million tonnes of carbon will be generated from the extraction, transportation, and burning of the gas used by the station, which would be located near Peterhead and would be built in cooperation with energy giant Equinor.
The existing Peterhead Power Station, which became operational in 1982 and has been labelled 'Scotland's dirtiest power station,' is expected to continue to burn gas until 2040, ten years later than expected.
The new station, 'Peterhead 2,' which could be built as early as 2030, would be operational for at least 25 years.
The proposed power station has been at the centre of an ongoing row over carbon capture. SSE has argued a robust carbon capture scheme would be in place to ensure 90% of carbon dioxide emitted from the station would be removed from the atmosphere.
The proposed system would see emissions captured and sent via underground pipes to nearby St Fergus, where they would be injected into abandoned oil wells deep below the North Sea.
However, climate campaigners have expressed scepticism over the plan, contending that a 75% carbon capture rate is a 'more realistic estimate'.
They have also argued that the technology only addresses emissions from the station itself, not from so-called 'upstream' emissions like extraction and transportation.
More than 30 organisations and 1600 people have objected to the plant's construction, which SSE first submitted for planning permission in 2022, before re-doing their Environmental Impact Assessment late last year in the face of growing public pressure.
A joint representation to the Scottish Government dated 7 July 2025 reads: 'The power station would continue to run for at least 10 years beyond Scotland's net zero 2045 date, producing annual emissions of 680,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
'[SSE] assumes that the plant would capture 90-95% of the carbon dioxide generated from the gas power station yet no other carbon capture project in the world has achieved this. A lower capture rate would result in an even greater climate impact.
Signatories to the letter include UCU Scotland, Christian Climate Action, Common Weal, Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, North Sea Knitters, and Uplift.
Protestors gathered outside SSE's AGM last year. (Image: Garry F McHarg) In a statement, Friends of the Earth Scotland's oil and gas campaigns manager Rosie Hampton noted: 'Scottish Ministers must use their powers and say no to SSE's Peterhead project which aims to burn expensive, polluting gas for the next 25 years or more. This power station will undermine the transition to renewable power and keep household electricity bills chained to volatile gas prices.
Hampton added: 'This energy giant has been shamed into admitting that its plans create nearly three times more climate wrecking emissions than feared. Even these extreme pollution figures are likely to be an underestimate because its carbon capture technology will inevitably fail as it has done everywhere else it has been tested.
'Ministers must say no to new gas and instead support climate solutions that we know work today and improve lives – upgrading public transport, insulating homes and creating green jobs in credible industries with a secure future.'
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A series of First Ministers have been accused of breaching the ministerial code over alleged support for the project, including Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf.
However, John Swinney has rejected calls for an ethics inquiry into meetings and visits taken by Mr Yousaf and Ms Sturgeon relating to the proposed power station.
In contrast to arguments by Friends of the Earth, SSE has long argued their plan would cut emissions, as the existing Peterhead Power Plant is phased out over the next fifteen years.
A letter setting out the vision for the new station reads: ' To make sure a renewables-led system can truly deliver for the UK, the reality is the system also needs flexibility to provide power when the wind isn't blowing, or the sun isn't shining. At the moment that's delivered through conventional power generation, like the existing Peterhead Power Station."
'What SSE wants to deliver is flexible generation that is low-carbon in its own right, ensuring the lights are kept on while dramatically reducing emissions.'
An SSE spokesperson added: 'The recent Environmental Impact Assessment was produced to reflect updated planning policy and our assessment of the direct emissions has not changed.
"The UK and Scottish Governments and the Climate Change Committee agree that carbon capture is essential to reaching net zero. Decarbonising Peterhead - Scotland's only large-scale flexible power station - is key to delivering low-carbon power, supporting clean energy and protecting jobs in the North East."