The Aporia
The Aporia
Paton, C. (2026, October 30). Swinney ‘deeply concerned’ by Acorn carbon capture decision. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/uk-government-government-john-healey-budget-first-minister-b1302989.html
Paton, Craig. “Swinney ‘deeply concerned’ by Acorn carbon capture decision.” Evening Standard, 30 Oct. 2026, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/uk-government-government-john-healey-budget-first-minister-b1302989.html.
Paton, Craig. “Swinney ‘deeply concerned’ by Acorn carbon capture decision.” Evening Standard, October 30, 2026. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/uk-government-government-john-healey-budget-first-minister-b1302989.html.
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Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney expressed deep concern over the UK Government's decision to alter funding for the Acorn carbon capture project in Aberdeenshire from a grant to loans or an equity stake, reversing an initial commitment of £200 million in grants. The change was made by Chancellor John Healey, amid confusion over whether the original funding commitment still stands. Despite Swinney's worries, UK Government energy minister Martin McCluskey stated that the changes were necessary to prioritize defense spending but clarified that the project’s initial grant funding of £200 million, with some already disbursed, remains intact for what has been drawn down. For future support, however, the government will offer loans or equity stakes instead of grants, arguing this is better value for taxpayers and more feasible given budget constraints. The Acorn project aims to store emissions from across Scotland under the North Sea seabed and could support approximately 15,000 jobs at its peak.
“That creates more risk, that creates more uncertainty about the project. “The very act of changing the funding mechanism does that, and I am deeply concerned about that because I think the Acorn project is an absolutely central project in relation to our work on climate action and it’s essential that it’s taken forward as part of that agenda and as part of encouraging the reindustrialisation of Scotland.”
