Scottish government approves new gas power station at Peterhead

SSE and Equinor project to generate about 900MW with carbon capture; campaigners warn of fossil fuel lock-in

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

Illustration: Scottish government approves new gas power station at Peterhead

The Scottish government has given its consent for construction of a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead, a project by SSE and Equinor that will generate about 900 megawatts of electricity and includes provision for carbon capture. The decision, which came on the same day Holyrood debated climate change and climate justice, has drawn praise from the developers and criticism from environmental groups.

The Scottish government has approved the construction of a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead, the last site in Scotland to burn fossil fuels. The scheme, by SSE and Equinor, will generate about 900 megawatts and includes provision for carbon capture.

Friends of the Earth Scotland insist the decision locks Scotland into a dependence on fossil fuels, while supporters argue new carbon capture technology could slash emissions from the new site by more than 90%. SSE said its delivery was contingent on progress with the Scottish carbon capture cluster.

The current Peterhead facility has been generating electricity for more than four decades, and SSE has previously said it intends to replace this site with the new 'Peterhead 2'. Climate campaigners have raised concerns that both facilities could continue operating together.

North East Scotland Green MSP Maggie Chapman said the existing gas-powered station was "Scotland's largest source of climate pollution", adding that "instead of tackling that and reducing its impact, the government has decided to expand it".

Campaign group Uplift also condemned the decision. A spokesperson said: "Our high dependency on expensive gas is what's driving our energy bills up and leading to millions of people facing impossible choices this winter. So, it is inconceivable why the Scottish government would want to lock ourselves into 30 more years of it."

Finlay McCutcheon, managing director of SSE Thermal, described the approval as "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".

The Scottish government previously said a decision would be taken "following consideration of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public".

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The decision determines the future of Scotland's fossil fuel generation, as the existing Peterhead plant is the last in Scotland to burn fossil fuels.
If carbon capture works, it could set a precedent for low-carbon gas power, but campaigners warn it locks in dependence on gas for decades.
Approved on the day Holyrood debated climate change, the decision signals the Scottish government's current approach to balancing energy security and emission cuts.

Background

The current Peterhead facility has been generating electricity for more than four decades and is the last in Scotland to burn fossil fuels. SSE intended to replace this site with the new 'Peterhead 2' project. The Scottish government had said an application would be decided after considering consultation responses and public representations.

Key Perspectives

Friends of the Earth Scotland: insists the decision locks Scotland into a dependence on fossil fuels.
Maggie Chapman (Green MSP, North East Scotland): says the existing station is "Scotland's largest source of climate pollution" and that the government has decided to "expand it" instead of tackling its impact.
Uplift (campaign group): says dependence on expensive gas drives up energy bills and calls it "inconceivable" to lock in "30 more years" of it.
SSE Thermal (managing director Finlay McCutcheon): calls it "an important milestone" that could provide flexible, low-carbon electricity and sustain good jobs in the north-east.
Supporters of the project: say new carbon capture technology could cut emissions from the new site by more than 90%.

What to Watch

Whether progress on the Scottish carbon capture cluster advances, as SSE said delivery is contingent on it.
Whether the existing Peterhead plant continues operating alongside the new one, which campaigners have raised as a concern.
Any further government statements or policy moves on climate targets as the project moves forward.

Sources

New gas-fired power station at Peterhead is approved · BBC Scotland
New gas-fired power station at Peterhead is approved · BBC Scotland

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe Scottish government approved construction of a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead.BBC Scotland: “The Scottish government has given its consent for the construction of a controversial new gas-fired power station at Peterhead.”
SupportedThe SSE and Equinor project is expected to generate about 900MW and includes provision for carbon capture.BBC Scotland: “The scheme, by SSE and Equinor, will generate about 900 megawatts of electricity and includes provision for carbon capture.”
SupportedCampaigners warn the decision locks Scotland into dependence on fossil fuels.BBC Scotland: “Environmental group Friends of the Earth Scotland insist the decision locks Scotland into a dependence on fossil fuels.”
SupportedThe consent came on the same day Holyrood debated climate change and climate justice.BBC Scotland: “The application for the power station was consented on the same day that Holyrood debated the issues of climate change and climate justice.”
Partly supportedThe decision drew praise from the developers.BBC Scotland: “Finlay McCutcheon, managing director of SSE Thermal, said: “This is 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.””
Partly supportedThe new power station is described as the last site in Scotland to burn fossil fuels.BBC Scotland: “The current Peterhead facility has been generating electricity for more than four decades but it is now the last in Scotland to burn fossil fuels.”
SupportedSupporters say carbon capture technology could cut emissions from the new site by more than 90%.BBC Scotland: “But supporters say new carbon capture technology could slash emissions from the new site by more than 90%.”
SupportedSSE said delivery of the project depended on progress with the Scottish carbon capture cluster.BBC Scotland: “SSE said its delivery was contingent on progress with the Scottish carbon capture cluster.”
SupportedMaggie Chapman said the existing gas-powered station was “Scotland's largest source of climate pollution”.BBC Scotland: “North East Scotland Green MSP Maggie Chapman said the existing gas-powered station was “Scotland's largest source of climate pollution”.”
SupportedChapman said the government had decided to expand the station instead of tackling its impact and reducing it.BBC Scotland: “She added that “instead of tackling that and reducing its impact, the government has decided to expand it”.”
SupportedA Uplift spokesperson said dependence on expensive gas was driving up bills and leading millions to face impossible choices that winter.BBC Scotland: “A spokesperson said: “Our high dependency on expensive gas is what's driving our energy bills up and leading to millions of people facing impossible choices this winter.””
SupportedA Uplift spokesperson said it was inconceivable the government would lock people into 30 more years of gas dependence.BBC Scotland: ““So, it is inconceivable why the Scottish government would want to lock ourselves into 30 more years of it.””