UK Government says Acorn Project near Peterhead ‘developing at pace’ following cluster selection
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The UK Government has said the Acorn Project near Peterhead is “developing at pace” following its selection as one of the four carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) clusters to be delivered by the end of this decade.
At Westminster, Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid spoke of the importance of the project at St Fergus and the new CCS thermal power station in Peterhead in delivering the UK’s net zero objectives.
It comes a week after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a £960 million pledge for the new Green Industries Growth Accelerator to ramp up projects such as Acorn.
Storegga estimates around 21,000 jobs will be supported at peak of the project, which is partnered with Shell, Harbour Energy and North Sea Midstream Partners.
In his response to Mr Duguid, energy minister Andrew Bowie said Acorn was a vital component of the government’s net zero objectives and was “progressing at pace”.
Mr Duguid said: “Can I ask if the UK Government recognises the need to develop CCUS across the UK at pace and to recognise the particular value new CCS thermal power stations, such as the planned project in Peterhead in my constituency, that will generate over 900MW and in conjunction with the Acorn Project in St Fergus, will be 95 per cent emissions free?”
Mr Bowie responded: “I'd like to thank and congratulate David Duguid in his relentless efforts to decarbonize the North Sea in the north-east of Scotland and his support for the Acorn Project that I was pleased to join him and the Prime Minister at the announcement of in the summer.
“CCUS is a priority as he knows for this government, and we are progressing at pace.
“Power CCUS will be a vital component of our route to net zero and that is why we're committed to supporting at least one power CCS plant by the mid-2020s.”
