Climate activists protest against plans to build second gas burning power station in Peterhead

Climate activists have staged a protest against SSE’s plans to build a second gas burning power station in Peterhead.

Friends of the Earth Scotland and Fuel Poverty Action gathered outside Perth Concert Hall on Thursday, where the energy giant is holding its AGM.

The groups claim the existing station has been labelled Scotland’s biggest polluter.

The existing Peterhead power station first became operational in 1982. STV News

Rosie Hampton from Friends of the Earth Scotland said that SSE have admitted that there’s a risk that both plants could run at the same time.

She told STV News: “So, without even getting the carbon capture and storage operational, there’s a chance that we could just have two gas fired power stations running concurrently, which does nothing for the community in Peterhead and ultimately just exemplifies the amount of emissions we have.

“And the Scottish Government cannot entertain this.”

The activists also insist a new gas burning station would do nothing to help stop the country’s reliance on gas and would lock in demand for the fuel for decades, well beyond the Scottish Government’s Net Zero target date of 2045, as well as keep energy prices linked to volatile fossil fuel markets.

“Gas is an incredibly expensive energy source, and locking Scotland into reliance on gas is a big problem,” said Chia Harrington from Fuel Poverty Action.

“The reason being that the last energy crisis was caused by disturbances on the global market and our reliance on gas.

“And if that happens again, more people are going to fall into fuel poverty.”

SSE said the need to decarbonise is urgent, but there needs to be a transition period.

A spokesperson for SSE Thermal said: “The Climate Change Committee, UK Government, and Scottish Government are all clear – some carbon capture will be an essential part of the technology mix needed to deliver net zero.

“As set out in the planning application, the new power station would utilise carbon capture from the outset – ensuring the vast majority of emissions do not enter the atmosphere.”

“As Scotland’s only large-scale flexible power station, decarbonising Peterhead is critical, and the proposed new station will provide vital low-carbon flexible backup to enable more renewables and to help heavy industry decarbonise.

“Once operational, Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station will help to keep the lights on, facilitate the transition to net zero, and retain and create good jobs in the region.

“The need to decarbonise is urgent and vital, but we need to do so while keeping the lights on, or we will lose the social mandate for the transition.”