SSE Energy Solutions has inked a key partnership with Hunterston Port and Resource Campus (Hunterston PARC) to supply sustainable energy for the upcoming development of the site.
Peel Ports Group, the nation's second-largest port operator, is at the helm of this ambitious project. The company is planning to transform 300 acres of land within the expansive Clydeport facility in Ayrshire into a thriving energy and marine campus.
A central aspect of the development blueprint involves SSE supplying both the infrastructure and renewable energy resources required to operate the business park. This aligns with the port operator's forward-thinking vision to form a collaborative hub featuring industry leaders, eminent academics, and ground-breaking innovators. The hub aims to pioneer new technological advances in diverse sectors like power generation and aquaculture.
The initiative dovetails with Scotland's rigorous climate targets, aiming for a complete phase-out of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. Adding heft to these efforts, SSE has earmarked a colossal £12.5 billion for capital investments aimed at achieving net-zero emissions within the next five years, up to 2026. A large chunk of this fund is designated for low-carbon infrastructure projects.
Nathan Sanders, Managing Director at SSE Energy Solutions, emphasized the alignment of the project with the company's broader goals. “The Hunterston PARC initiative is an ideal match for our Just Transition and Social Value strategies,” he said. “Our commitment to engaging with local communities and enterprises to combat climate change means this project will not only add jobs and stimulate the economy in Western Scotland, but also significantly contribute to the UK's overall net-zero targets.”
Strategically located just 40 minutes from Glasgow, Hunterston PARC is viewed as an excellent candidate for this undertaking. It boasts a deep-water port, is equipped with on-site rail connections, and is already plugged into the national power grid. Furthermore, it has received national development status under Scotland's National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), paving the way for more renewable energy projects to flourish.
Previously, Peel Ports Group had also secured a long-term contract with sub-sea cabling specialist XLCC for a major facility that could potentially create 900 new jobs. The project has received the green light with its final planning approval granted earlier this year.
Outpacing the Scottish government's 2045 decarbonization deadline, Peel Ports Group is committed to achieving net-zero emissions across all its locations by 2040. Lewis McIntyre, Managing Director of Port Services at Peel Ports Group, said, “We are honored to join forces with a significant and credible partner like SSE. This collaboration will not only meet the energy requirements of multiple developments at our facility but also help to repurpose this nationally important port for future blue and green economies.”
