The SNP is accused of 'climate hypocrisy' for approving a Peterhead gas plant on the SAME DAY Holyrood debated climate

Scotland's SNP government has approved a new 900-megawatt gas-fired power station at Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, on the same day Holyrood held a debate on climate change and climate justice. Katherine May, head of Oxfam Scotland, blasted it a "startling act of climate hypocrisy." Developers SSE Thermal and Equinor insist the plant will use carbon capture to remove 90% of emissions.

Gas could continue to be burned at the plant until 2059 — 14 years beyond Scotland's own net-zero target date.

Friends of the Earth Scotland warn that Scotland currently has no functioning carbon capture transport and storage network, following lead developer Storegga's withdrawal from the Acorn project in December 2025.

SSE admitted in 2025 that the project will generate more than three times the climate pollution that the company originally stated in its planning application.