Scottish Ministers approve new gas power station in Peterhead

Scottish ministers have faced accusations of “climate hypocrisy” following the approval of a new gas-fired power station in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. The proposed 900 megawatt facility is being developed by SSE Thermal and Equinor.

Developers state the plant will be equipped with carbon capture technology to remove CO2 emissions, arguing that flexible gas-fired generation provides “reliable backup power” necessary to complement renewable energy during the transition to net-zero.

Environmental campaigners, including representatives from Oxfam Scotland and Friends of the Earth Scotland, have condemned the decision. Critics described the approval as a “catastrophic failure” and argued that authorizing new fossil fuel projects contradicts Scotland’s stated goals regarding climate leadership and justice.