Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station Project

SSE Thermal and Equinor are exploring opportunities for decarbonised power generation on the site of SSE’s existing power station at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.  The new gas-fired power station, which will be fitted with carbon capture technology, will have an electrical output of up 910MW.  Situated on Scotland’s east coast, the Peterhead site is ideally placed for carbon capture technology, with access to essential CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure that is being developed through the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project.  The Acorn CO₂ Storage Site, which will be used by the Acorn CCS Project to safely store CO₂, is located about 100km offshore below the North Sea.

A key challenge in progressing the Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station Project has been undertaking effective and meaningful consultation during the Covid-19 pandemic.  DWD worked closely with SSE Thermal to develop the consultation strategy, which was discussed with the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) of the Scottish Government and Aberdeenshire Council.  DWD then collaborated with AECOM to deliver the consultation strategy, which involved two separate stages of consultation using a variety of consultation methods, including an innovative virtual consultation event developed by AECOM.

DWD helped SSE Thermal to develop an adaptive consultation strategy that provided safe and convenient opportunities for the local community and other stakeholders to engage during the two stages of consultation.  DWD is currently providing planning and consenting support to the Project and has been responsible for leading discussions with the ECU of the Scottish Government and Aberdeenshire Council.  DWD will also be responsible for the preparation of the planning documentation to accompany the Section 36 application submitted to Scottish Government, including the Consultation Report detailing the consultation carried out and how responses to that consultation have been taken into account, in addition to the Planning Statement setting out the need for the Project and its compliance with relevant energy and planning policy.

We were able to bring our experience of having worked collaboratively with AECOM to successfully run a number of consultations during the Covid-19 pandemic to the Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station Project.  We have been able to apply our extensive knowledge of the Electricity Act 1989 consenting processes (Sections 36 and 37) to the Project.