PETERHEAD PORT AUTHORITY: Building Scotland’s Gateway to a Low-Carbon Future
Keith Mackie of Peterhead Port Authority tells Energy Focus that significant projects are underway to further prepare the port as the energy transition brings major opportunities. Nowhere around the Scottish coast, he says, is better placed to take advantage of the growing offshore energy potential.
Supported by:
For decades, Scotland’s north-east coast has been the heartbeat of the UK’s offshore oil and gas sector. From the pioneering days of North Sea exploration to the present, ports like Peterhead have been the launchpad for vessels, people, and technology powering the energy industry. But as Scotland races toward net zero — with 15.4GW of renewable electricity capacity already operational and tens of gigawatts in the pipeline — those same ports are now turning their sights to a new horizon.
Peterhead Port Authority (PPA), sitting strategically between Aberdeen and Fraserburgh, is positioning itself at the centre of this transformation. The Trust Port, owned and operated for the benefit of its community, is embracing change across every quay, jetty, and service offering. It remains Europe’s largest white fish port — a status that continues to underpin local life and trade — but Keith Mackie, Head of Business Development – Energy Transition, says the port is rapidly becoming one of Scotland’s most versatile energy gateways.
A PORT EVOLVING
Mackie describes a business rooted in tradition but driven by opportunity. “We have around 80 people working here,” he begins. “Half of the Port’s revenue comes from the fishing industry, and we are the largest white fish port in Europe – that is the bedrock and heritage of Peterhead Port. The other half comes from energy and traditional bulk cargo. Most of our energy work is focused on oil and gas but we do have a renewables business in place which is growing as the industry transitions.”
That balance between legacy and future is key. The port’s location gives it proximity to several major offshore energy developments — from the ScotWind leasing areas to the Acorn carbon capture and storage (CCS) project just up the coast. For Mackie, this is where Peterhead can have the greatest impact: “We are starting to see more enquiries coming from renewable companies, especially around offshore wind, clean fuels, and CCS. We see that gradually starting to displace oil and gas across the port over the next few decades.”
Mackie’s experience brings a valuable perspective. “My recent background is working in the energy transition space in Aberdeen, supporting supply chain across projects that are involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and decommissioning,” he explains. “Prior to that I worked in supporting technology development in the oil and gas industry. My experience has always been in the energy supply chain, and the opportunity came around three years ago to better support the port with links into that supply chain and move these opportunities forward.”
The Scottish government is aiming for 50% of all energy consumption for heat, transport, and electricity to come from renewables by 2030 as it continues on its transition drive, and PPA is perfectly positioned to be an exciting part of the journey.
INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
The scale of work underway at Peterhead is impressive. A new masterplan is in development to guide investment and maximise the potential of the port’s assets. “We are developing a master planning process which is an overall port development plan to encompass various pieces of infrastructure optimisation to maximise opportunities,” says Mackie.
Among the headline projects is the £30m planned expansion of Smith Quay — an initiative that will directly support offshore wind and other large-vessel operations. “That extension of our existing quay side is probably further advanced than any other project,” Mackie continues. “Currently it sits at around 120m but we are extending by 80m at a water depth of 10m which will allow us to take more and bigger vessels, predominantly in the offshore wind sector.”
Construction is planned for 2026 and 2027, with completion expected in early 2028. When finished, the new quay will enable Peterhead to handle installation and maintenance vessels for Scotland’s growing fleet of offshore wind projects. With over 25GW of projects identified in the ScotWind and INTOG rounds, this expanded capacity could not be more timely.
The port’s collaboration with Maritime Developments Ltd (MDL) adds further momentum. PPA entered a long-term agreement with MDL to lease over 14,000m2 of land at Smith Embankment with access to Smith Quay through a dedicated spooling route. “We have leased part of the port’s prime storage area space to MDL so that they can build an Energy Service Base including office, workshop, warehouse, large cable carousels and storage. This will allow them to tender for cable and mooring contracts associated with deployment and maintenance of offshore wind farms whilst continuing their flex lay and cable management activities,” explains Mackie. “They work in the oil and gas industry and they are increasingly looking to grow in the renewables space and the leasing of that space for 25 years (with a 15-year extension option) will allow them to base themselves in Peterhead while bringing more activity into the port. That is still be finalised, but they hope to break ground in early 2026 in what is expected to be around a £12 million initial investment for the base.”
For Peterhead, this represents more than just another tenant — it’s an anchor for a new generation of energy supply chain businesses. The deal ensures long-term commitment to the region and reinforces Peterhead’s growing reputation as a North Sea hub for transition industries.
ENERGY TRANSITION IN ACTION
While new infrastructure dominates headlines, existing assets are also being reimagined to support low-carbon operations. “We have an existing tanker jetty that could potentially be repurposed for another 25 years of life to support the import of CO₂ and we are the preferred CO₂ import port for the Acorn project which is based at St Fergus around 10 miles north,” says Mackie. “That will involve infrastructure changes across the jetty and, probably, requiring some bay calming developments to be considered.”
The Acorn Project, led by Storegga, is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most advanced CCS initiatives. Backed by government and industry, it is designed to capture and store millions of tonnes of CO₂ each year using existing North Sea pipeline networks. Peterhead’s involvement positions it as a critical player in the UK’s decarbonisation roadmap.
Future-facing conversations are also underway around hydrogen-derivative and synthetic fuel exports. “We have been talking to a number of companies that are looking to produce some sort of derivative from green hydrogen in Peterhead and potentially export at bulk through the port,” Mackie notes. “That would involve the creation of a new jetty to support the transport of that product.”
If realised, such developments would make Peterhead one of very few ports in the UK capable of handling multiple transition energy streams — renewables, clean fuels, carbon storage, and conventional hydrocarbons — all from one site.
LOCAL VALUE
Despite its growing regional and national importance, Mackie insists the port’s community ethos remains front and centre. “The port is the heart of the community – we invest £80,000 to £100,000 in local good causes each year,” he says. “We have a commitment to supporting our local community and the Trust Port ethos means that profits get invested back into port for the betterment of the port in the longer term, and for the benefit of the local community.”
That reinvestment model has tangible results. A study by BiGGAR Economics found that in 2023/24, Peterhead Port contributed £830 million in Gross Value Added (GVA), supporting almost 8,000 jobs. The port’s economic impact has grown by nearly 50% since 2012 — a testament to its ability to evolve and attract new business.
As a major partner in the Peter Energy Transition Forum, PPA is helping coordinate a regional response to the opportunities ahead. “We are always looking for opportunities to articulate Peterhead as an energy hub,” says Mackie. “The Forum is focusing on collaborative aspects of that in terms of skills, workforce, community wealth building, net-zero and decarbonisation, and things that are of interest to all parties in a non-competitive way.”
This collaborative model has made Peterhead a focal point for inward investment. Local engineering firms, fabricators, and logistics providers already benefit from the port’s expanding workload. “There are many local companies that we work with, and we have a small contracting team that handles most of the maintenance work,” Mackie adds. “If it’s larger pieces of maintenance, we will subcontract out, and we always try to look to local firms first.”
FORWARD THINKING
Scotland’s energy future will rely heavily on how its coastal infrastructure adapts to new industries. For Peterhead, that means leveraging its oil and gas heritage while embracing renewables, CCS, and clean fuels — a balance that few ports can manage so effectively.
Mackie sees enormous promise. “Peterhead has many opportunities and the port will be central in the energy transition in Scotland over the next 30 or 40 years,” he says. “We have a lot of offshore wind landing in Peterhead, we have the Acorn project, we have the ability to transport clean fuels, and we have a big fishing side to our business. This location will be central to a lot of activity that will happen.”
The Port Authority’s own studies suggest the energy transition could create as many as 8,000 high-value jobs in Peterhead over the next decade. For a community historically defined by fishing and oil, the chance to build new skills and industries offers a profound opportunity for renewal.
Mackie emphasises the need for government support to make that future a reality. “It’s vital that government funds projects like Acorn,” says Mackie. “It will create jobs and ensure a just energy transition.”
That message resonates across Scotland. From Orkney to Aberdeen, from Montrose to Leith, the country’s ports are emerging as the industrial backbone of its energy revolution. Few, however, combine such a rich maritime legacy with such clear strategic intent as Peterhead.
THE FUTURE IS LOCAL
As energy systems change, so too must the places that serve them. Peterhead Port Authority is showing how a traditional port can stay relevant by aligning commercial growth with community benefit. Its projects — from quay extensions to clean fuel jetties — are more than infrastructure investments; they are commitments to a just, sustainable energy future.
Peterhead is not turning its back on oil and gas, nor on its fishing heritage. Instead, it is layering new capabilities atop old strengths. In doing so, it is helping define what a 21st-century energy port looks like: dynamic, inclusive, and essential to the wider transition now underway across Scotland’s shores.