Energy giant SSE makes net-zero pledge

Perth-based energy giant SSE has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

The pledge puts the energy company ’s operations in line with the ambition to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5C.

It has joined more than 1 ,000 firms worldwide by backing the Race to Zero campaign.

SSE is already investing £7.5 billion in low-carbon energy and electricity infrastructure over the next five years.

This includes building Scotland’ s largest offshore wind farm in Seagreen, off the coast of Angus, the world’s largest offshore wind farm in Dogger Bank and the UK’s largest onshore wind farm in Viking on the Shetland Islands.

Martin Pibworth, SSE energy director, said: “Preventing climate change is the responsibility of everyone.

“At SSE, we have pinned our future on providing the low carbon infrastructure that helps the UK and Ireland achieve their climate targets.

“But we must have our own house in order too. That’s why SSE is today, committing to achieve ‘net-zero ’ carbon emissions from all of our business operations by 2050 at the latest.

“With less than 12 months until the climate negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow, we hope many more businesses will join the Race to Zero and support greater global climate action.”

SSE’ s business strategy is geared towards enabling the net-zero transition for the whole energy system in the UK and Ireland. It has also already committed to a series of comprehensive carbon targets, aligned to the 2016 Paris Agreement.