Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has pledged to consider accelerating the Acorn Carbon Capture project in Aberdeenshire as a potential lifeline for workers at Grangemouth, where 400 jobs are at risk.
As a key component of the Scottish Cluster, Grangemouth is crucial in linking to the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) initiative, which seeks to significantly decrease industrial carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in Scotland.
While speaking on Times Radio this morning, Miliband said that he would examine suggestions for Acorn to assist the future of Grangemouth, which has recently announced the redundancy of 400 employees.
During the interview, Miliband was presented with the idea that an accelerated timeline for Acorn could help preserve jobs at Grangemouth, a suggestion he indicated he would consider.
Miliband added: “We are determined to have a future for that Grangemouth site and for the Grangemouth community and that’s what we’re working on actually alongside the Scottish government something called Project Willow which is a whole project which will be published later this month or early next on looking at how we can how we can make the most of the potential resources at Grangemouth.
“Carbon capture and storage could be part of it, sustainable aviation fuel could be part of it. There’s huge potential on that site and we are absolutely determined for the sake of that community, the Scottish economy, the UK economy to do that because there’s huge benefits.”
The situation has previously faced criticism from local politicians. Stephen Flynn, MP for Aberdeen South, dismissed previous comments from Miliband during a visit to Aberdeen last October as “little more than the same warm words on CCUS that we’ve all heard before” while Conservative MP Andrew Bowie warned that “Labour will never be forgiven if they do not honour the previous Conservative government’s commitment to develop Acorn.”
Commenting on the interview, Russell Borthwick, Chief Executive at Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Secretary of State is right to consider an accelerated timeline for Acorn, which is an economic imperative for both the North-east and wider Scottish economy.
“There is no better opportunity to deliver economic growth and clean power, two stated missions of the government, than progressing the Scottish Cluster.
“Carbon capture technology is game-changing technology which can create tens of thousands of jobs across the country.
“However, if we are serious about decarbonisation, then we must move much faster and more comprehensively than we have to date.
“The UK will need all five of its proposed carbon capture clusters – and possibly more – if it is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Therefore, the government should be progressing all clusters at pace, in particular the Acorn project in Aberdeenshire, which the Prime Minister has seen for himself is shovel ready.”
The Acorn Project, located at St Fergus near Peterhead, would capture harmful emissions and store them permanently underground, potentially creating thousands of jobs in the north-east. This development comes at a crucial time, as Petroineos announced plans to close the Grangemouth refinery in the second quarter of 2025.
The project is anticipated to contribute £17.7billion directly to UK’s economic output over 25 years but has yet to formally receive Treasury backing.
