Local Councillors Welcome Carbon Capture Progress

SNP councillors in Peterhead South & Cruden have welcomed the announcement that the UK Government has submitted 12 applications from UK projects to the European Investment Bank (EIB) for consideration in the next round of the EU’s New Entrant Reserve (NER) scheme – a fund worth around EUR4.5 billion to support carbon capture and storage (CCS) and innovative renewable projects across the European Union. Up to three projects may be supported per Member State.

One of the projects put forward for support is SSE Generation Limited’s plan for post-combustion capture to be retrofitted to Peterhead Power Station.

Commenting, Peterhead South & Cruden councillor Stephen Smith said:

“This is long-overdue and Peterhead should be at the top of any UK Government list of carbon capture projects to receive support and backing.

“The carbon capture project developed at Peterhead Power Station back in 2007 was the most advanced of its time and had the UK Government had the vision to support it back then, it could have been operational by 2010, making it the world’s first carbon capture project.

“However, it is good to see that SSE remain committed to Peterhead and I hope that success here will lead to a jobs boost for the Buchan economy.”

Fellow Peterhead South & Cruden councillor Stuart Pratt added:

"Scotland has an unrivalled opportunity to realise our enormous potential in delivering clean, green energy, and become a world leader in this vital new technology.

“This announcement is very much to be welcomed, but we could have been on our way to having world-leading technology up and running in Peterhead back in 2007, had the UK Government made a commitment back then. Had this area been under the power of the Scottish Government then I think we would not be still sitting around today waiting for progress to be made.”