About

SECURING VITAL TRADE AND SUPPORTING THE ACCELERATION OF INNOVATION, DIVERSIFICATION AND DECARBONISATION OF THE REGION’S KEY SECTORS

North East Scotland Green Freeport - led by Port of Aberdeen, Aberdeen International Airport, Peterhead Port Authority, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council - is a collaborative bid seeking to transform the North East into a ‘green’ free trade zone or ‘Green Freeport’. Plans are in place to introduce two Green Freeports in Scotland by 2023 in a bid to strengthen Scotland’s economy post-COVID-19 and tackle climate change.

This initiative is part of the Green Freeport bidding process in Scotland and is not yet an established free trade zone.

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.

North East Scotland Green Freeport

KEY OBJECTIVES

Foster an innovative environment

Our aim is to forge a community of collaborative innovation, aligning the R&D activities of academia with the public and private sector, to deliver technological advancement and become a global centre of excellence for net zero transformation.

We will harness the region’s existing expertise in freight logistics across global supply chains and become a UK test-bed for the development of innovative solutions for future trade systems, including the use of drone technology across ports and customs infrastructure.

Establish hubs for global trade and investment

Green Freeport status will leverage private sector investment to attract new manufacturing and subsea engineering companies, maximising economic benefit from Scotland’s rapidly-growing offshore wind and hydrogen sectors. It will also capitalise on the brand new £400million Aberdeen South Harbour expansion which provides 24 hour non tidal access and deep-water facilities on the East Coast.

This opportunity will accelerate the impacts of a new Green Hydrogen Production and Distribution Hub to produce the renewable gas for regional and national markets, and ultimately export.

North East Scotland Green Freeport will 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.

Promote regeneration and high-quality job creation across the region

North East Scotland Green Freeport will stimulate local and wider regeneration, amplifying the value of the Green Freeport investment to level up deprived communities and enable and accelerate a just transition.

This is an opportunity to generate prosperity for our people and create opportunities for those that need them most through the creation of high-quality, green jobs, and reskilling and upskilling the regional workforce.

Promote decarbonisation and a just transition to a Net Zero economy

Green Freeport status will transform the North East into a world leader of clean energy production, low-carbon investment and accelerated commercialisation of innovative low-carbon technologies, spearheading Scotland’s drive to Net Zero by 2045.

We will deliver a globally recognised integrated energy cluster focused on the delivery of Net Zero contributing significantly to national energy and economic security.

Our Green Freeport will accelerate the delivery of Acorn, Scotland’s only carbon capture cluster, and establish Europe’s largest direct air capture facility on the Buchan coast.