Scotland’s first two Green Freeports to be established

Inverness and Cromarty Firth and Firth of Forth were announced as new Green Freeports, and operations are expected to commence at both later this year.

Consortiums were invited to submit their bids for a share of the funding for the Scottish and UK Governments to jointly select the new locations.

The two Green Freeports are backed by up to £52 million in UK Government funding, helping to bring new, high-skilled job opportunities as well as private and public investment to the area.

The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport will have a focus on floating offshore wind, nuclear and hydrogen. It aims to create 25,000 jobs and generate £4.8 billion in investment, and includes Ports of Inverness, Cromarty Firth, and Nigg, and Inverness Airport.

The Forth Green Freeport will have a focus on renewables manufacturing, alternative fuels, carbon capture utilisation and storage and shipbuilding. It aims to create 50,000 jobs and generate £6 billion in investment with sites at Grangemouth, Rosyth and Leith, Edinburgh Airport and Burntisland.

Green Freeports are designed to boost innovation and growth within communities while upholding environmental protection and economic transformation.

They are required to contribute to four key policy objectives: supporting regeneration and high-quality job creation; promoting a just transition to a net-zero economy; establishing global trade hubs and investment; and fostering an innovative environment.

Each Green Freeport will have access to up to £26 million in UK Government funding and private and public investment at a value of £10.8 million, thus maximising local and national benefits for both regions.

On the announcement, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:

“This is a milestone achievement in the process to deliver Green Freeports for Scotland. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and Forth Green Freeport will support businesses to create high-quality, well-paid new jobs, promote growth and regeneration, and make a significant contribution to achieving our net zero ambitions.

“Scotland has a rich history of innovation, trade and manufacturing and as we look to seize the many opportunities achieving net zero offers, the creation of these internationally competitive clusters of excellence will help us to create new green jobs, deliver a just transition and support our economic transformation.”