North East Scotland consortium bids for green freeport status

A major regional consortium based in North East Scotland has become the latest group to announce plans to bid for green freeport status.

The North East Scotland Green Freeport (NESGF) alliance says the plans could create 30,000 high-quality jobs in the North East of Scotland under plans to transform the region into the ‘Net Zero Capital of Europe’.

The Scottish and UK governments are working together to create two green freeports in Scotland by next year. Green freeports are economic zones designed to boost innovation and inclusive growth within communities, while creating new green jobs and upholding environmental protections.

A green freeport includes a rail, sea or airport. Operators and businesses in the zone can benefit from tax breaks and other incentives.

“For 50 years, Aberdeen and the North East have been the centre of the UK’s world-beating energy sector,” says Cllr Ian Yuill, co-leader of Aberdeen City Council. “The North East of Scotland Green Freeport would allow us to build on this and the City Council will continue to work with our partners and others to submit the strongest possible bid for a green freeport.

“If this bid succeeds, it will have a key role in securing business and jobs for the North East for years to come…The legacy here of decades of enterprise, technology, research and innovation in offshore engineering and talent across the supply chain, equips Aberdeen and the North East with the foundation to deliver the vision of Aberdeen becoming the Net Zero Capital of Europe.”

The North East Scotland Green Freeport alliance joins a growing list of organisations seeking to bid for freeport status before the deadline of 20 June. To make a bid, organisations must detail how they will create high-quality jobs, regenerate their area, and support the transition to a net-zero economy.

The announcement from NESGF follows a recent visit to Aberdeen by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during which she highlighted the Scottish Government’s commitment to repositioning the region as the ‘Net Zero Capital of Europe’ and Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s pledge to boost Scotland’s transformation as a ‘green energy hub’ and deliver the UK Government’s commitments on Net Zero.

By throwing its hat into the ring, North East Scotland Green Freeport says it will make these commitments a reality. It says it will bring large-scale, advanced manufacturing to Aberdeen to maximise economic benefit from Scotland’s rapidly-growing offshore wind and hydrogen sectors and accelerate “pioneering” carbon capture projects on the Buchan coast.

It says it will also create a regional customs hub for premium and globally recognised Scottish food and drink exports, building direct links to key markets for products such as Scotch whisky, seafood and meat produce.

Simon Brebner, chief executive of Peterhead Port Authority, says: “A successful bid will have a transformative effect on the Peterhead area, accelerating the push towards Net Zero through carbon capture and storage and creating thousands of jobs as well as dovetailing with vital decarbonisation work across the region. 

“For Scotland and the UK to reach its climate goals, it needs the energy sector in the north east of Scotland to be at the vanguard of the transition.  The levers and incentives offered through the green freeport will provide certainty to investors that in turns will allow us to transition to innovative renewables solutions” 

Senior representatives of the collaborative consortium were joined today by North East business leaders at the new Aberdeen South Harbour, which will play a key role in unlocking the massive offshore wind opportunity, to issue a direct call to both the Scottish Government and UK Government to back the region’s bid.

NESGF says the ambitious proposals will secure vital trade and support the acceleration of innovation, diversification and decarbonisation of the region’s key sectors including seafood and subsea engineering.

Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive of Port of Aberdeen, says: “In this climate emergency, the UK needs a region with a proven track record of delivering innovative energy solutions and economic opportunities at pace. The fusion of green freeport status with a region internationally renowned for its resilience, adaptability and pioneering entrepreneurial spirit would deliver a prosperous new chapter in our industrial story. One which, quite literally, could help change the world.

Cllr Miranda Radley, convenor of Aberdeen City Council’s Operational Delivery Committee, adds: “This is an incredible opportunity for the city. I am excited by the potential it offers to support the transition of our existing workforce, and in the longer term to develop the skills of our children and young people so they are ready to access the next generation of energy jobs across the region. It is a key priority of Aberdeen City Council to ensure a just transition that provides opportunities for all our people.  

“We also draw on our advantage of being a leader in offshore energy production, and I believe the North East Scotland Green Freeport is the next stage of a very exciting diversification.”