Green ports bid

Full screen in popup

• Previous
• Next

New Leith outer berth with floating foundation and turbine. Photo: Forth Ports

How the renewable energy hub at the Port of Leith could look. Photo: Forth Ports

1/2

show caption

The Scottish Government invited business to note their interest in establishing fair and sustainable green ports in Scotland on 23 June. Forth Ports plans to submit a proposal for a Green Port encompassing key ports, industrial complexes and logistics centres along the north and south shores of the Firth of Forth and at Edinburgh Airport.

Charles Hammond OBE, group chief executive of Forth Ports, said: “Our interest in creating a Firth of Forth Green Port is underpinned by our belief in the government policy behind it to create economic zones for investment and regeneration and we are committed to supporting the development of this Green Port policy.

“The Firth of Forth, spanning from Central Scotland to the country’s east coast, is the critical engine for Scotland’s economic recovery. The creation of the Firth of Forth Green Port will encourage greater inclusive growth, fair work practices and help deliver Scotland’s net zero economy.”

Forth Estuary focus

Forth Ports proposes that the Firth of Forth Green Port will encompass strategic locations along the Forth Estuary, including Grangemouth (home to Scotland’s Freight Hub and principal petrochemical cluster) and the Port of Leith, where Forth Ports announced in May that it plans to create a £40 million renewable energy hub.

Fife and the City of Edinburgh are also expected to feature in Forth Ports’ Green Ports bid. Forth Ports are currently evaluating sites in Fife along the North Shore of the Firth of Forth from Longannet to Rosyth. Edinburgh Airport is also expected to feature for its international connectivity. Forth Ports said each of these locations are uniquely placed to deliver on all of the objectives of the proposed Green Ports policy.

Forth Ports owns seven Scottish ports on the east coast and one in London.

Adapting the UK Government freeport proposals, the aim of Scottish green ports is to offer a package of tax and customs reliefs to operators and their beneficiaries who adopt fair work practices and contribute to Scotland’s just energy transition to net zero.