10 ways we’ve fought against new Peterhead gas burning plans
Since plans for a new gas burning power station were submitted in February 2022, many people have worked tirelessly to oppose this project.
Energy giants SSE and Equinor want to build this new power plant in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire right next to the existing gas power station.
These plans are wholly reliant on dodgy carbon capture technology which has never delivered properly anywhere it has been tried.
People know that new fossil fuels will lock in high energy bills for decades to come – leaving households at the mercy of the greedy international energy companies.
So campaigners have found creative, disruptive ways to keep this story in the spotlight and keep the pressure on the Scottish Government to reject these plans.
We’ve picked out just 10 of the many highlights
1. Protested at SSE Annual Meeting. Twice.
SSE are the lead developer of the scheme so we spoiled their big party two years in a row. We gathered outside the Perth concert hall talking to the media, shareholders and passersby about the risks of project. Meanwhile, activists were inside the event, grilling the company bosses about their climate claims and not getting credible answers.
2. Formally objected to the plans
Friends of the Earth Scotland painstakingly responded to the planning application to explain why Ministers must reject the proposals. Our extensive response highlighted the climate pollution that will inevitably be caused by the project, the historic failures of carbon capture and the threat it poses to green jobs.
3. Exposed the full climate harm of the project
Independent research by Carbon Tracker showed the entire development could be responsible for 5 times more climate emissions than the companies claimed in their planning application. The firms had not accounted for the inevitable pollution from extracting and transporting the gas to be burned on site. This analysis also exposed the wildly optimistic claims about how much carbon it would capture.
4. Uncovered the cosy lobbying relationship between Ministers and the developers
In depth digging exposed the way Scottish Government ministers have entirely mishandled this planning application. We highlighted scores of meetings with developers SSE and Equinor whilst refusing to meet objectors, lost meeting records, ministers speaking publicly in favour of the project and even the First Minister visiting the Peterhead site.
5. Made the link between new gas and fuel poverty
Climate groups teamed up with allies at Fuel Poverty Action to protest outside the energy giant SSE’s offices in Glasgow on the day the energy bill price cap went up yet again. Together we highlighted SSE’s role in pushing energy prices up by prolonging our reliance on expensive gas. Even the energy regulator OFGEM made clear the rise was due to “our reliance on international gas markets leads to volatile wholesale prices, and continues to drive up bills”.
6. Brought dozens of climate groups together to oppose the project
Fuel poverty, grassroots climate groups and marine protection organisations were amongst 44 groups who wrote to Scottish Government Ministers urging them to reject proposals for a new gas burning power station at Peterhead.
The letter signed by Oxfam Scotland, Fuel Poverty Action, Parents for Future Scotland and others highlights how new gas at Peterhead would maintain the current energy system which is “dominated by exploitative fossil fuel companies who are benefitting off ordinary people’s hardship.”
7. Cycled nearly 300km along a proposed 273km carbon capture pipeline
The wonderful North Sea Knitters embarked on an epic pedal-powered journey from Grangemouth to St Fergus, cycling the whole length of a proposed carbon capture pipeline. This pipeline is an integral part of the struggling Acorn Carbon Capture scheme, which the Peterhead scheme would rely on if it was ever built. Along the way, they spread the word about the dangers of transporting CO2 and spoke to locals about their experiences of living beside existing oil and gas pipelines.
8. Demonstrated public opposition with a 13,000 strong petition to the Scottish Government
Campaigners handed in a petition to the Scottish Government urging them to reject the plans for a new gas burning power station in Peterhead.
The petition, hosted by Friends of the Earth Scotland and 350.org and signed by over 13,000 people, was handed in at the Scottish Government building, St Andrews House, in Edinburgh. The petition highlighted how the new development would undermine a fair and fast transition to renewable energy by extending our reliance on fossil fuels for another 25 years.
9. Protested an industry conference for its sponsorship by Peterhead CCS power station
Protesters targeted the ‘Decarb Scotland’ conference in Edinburgh for its sponsorship by the Peterhead carbon capture project. We were outside with signs, placards and songs exposing the nonsense being peddled inside. We called out the hypocrisy of a Scottish Government minister who was responsible for making the decision about the project speaking at an event sponsored by that same project!
10. Staged knit ins at the developer SSE’s offices in Perth
Climate activist group, the North Sea Knitters, have held four ‘knit in’ protest at SSE’s headquarters in Perth. These protests have coincided with SSE announcing billions in profits and challenged the company’s fossil fuel expansion plans. The Knitters have also taken their protests to Holyrood, urging the First Minister and other MSPs to speak out against the Peterhead plans.
This campaign is still going strong, so if you want to get involved or support this work, you can sign up to our mailing list or make a donation today.