At the heart of Acorn is a commitment to delivering lasting benefits for people, businesses and communities in all the areas where we work.

By repurposing existing infrastructure and enabling new low‑carbon industries, Acorn is helping to secure the region’s economic future while supporting a fair and inclusive energy transition.

Our work goes beyond building infrastructure — it’s about building opportunity: creating skilled jobs, developing local supply chains, and ensuring that the communities hosting this transformation share directly in its rewards.

Economic Impacts

The infrastructure being developed and repurposed for Acorn will build the foundation for a cleaner, stronger economic future across North East and Central Scotland. 

In 2021, more than 19,000 people were employed in upstream oil and gas across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. As demand for oil and gas production continues to decline, these job figures are falling — but the skills, talent, and experience of this workforce remain invaluable.

Acorn, together with the wider Scottish Cluster projects, supports a just transition — preserving existing jobs by improving the sustainability of current industries, while helping people move into new, secure, and skilled low‑carbon roles. 

Our work will strengthen both the regional and national economy by:

• Creating high‑value employment opportunities in clean energy sectors
• Expanding regional and national supply chains
• Opening new pathways for international trade in low‑carbon technologies

We’re working hand in hand with government, local authorities, and regional initiatives such as the Aberdeen Energy Transition Zone to ensure that North Sea communities thrive as the energy system evolves.

Local Impacts

The coastal district of Buchan is at the heart of Acorn's development. Peterhead Power Station, St Fergus Gas Terminal and Peterhead Port are all located within reach of some of the world’s best understood offshore CO₂ storage sites, accessible via existing gas pipelines that can be repurposed for transporting CO₂.

However, Buchan’s local communities are more than just the hosts of Acorn’s infrastructure — they are central to Scotland’s wider energy transition. The region is home to numerous offshore wind landfall sites and major energy network upgrades, all taking place within this relatively small rural area.

We recognise that this level of development brings both significant opportunity and disruption. As we move forward with delivering Acorn, we are committed to a proactive programme of community engagement — working closely with local people, businesses, schools, and skills agencies to minimise impacts and maximise opportunities for long‑term shared success.