Scotland's Premier Net Zero Port

Net Zero by 2040

Port of Aberdeen has the bold vision to become the first UK port to achieve net zero by 2040. Notably, we are the only UK port to take accountability for Scope 3 emissions from client vessels in our efforts to reach net zero.

Our award-winning net zero strategy has three key themes – reducing port emissions, facilitating future fuels, and supporting the energy transition. These key themes guide the our decision-making and financial investment decisions around net zero.

“Port of Aberdeen's activities are a key enabler of the exciting energy transition. Great British Energy looks forward to partnering with the port to help accelerate this work.”

Juergen Maier CBE
Chair, Great British Energy

Scoping Our Emissions

As part of our vision to become the UK’s first net zero port by 2040, we measure the carbon footprint associated with port activity.

In 2025, our carbon footprint was independently verified at 65,277.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO²e).

Scope 1

Scope 1 emissions reduced by 12.1%, due to lower diesel use in our equipment, vehicles and vessels. Natural gas remains the largest contributor to scope 1 (98%), reflecting its use to heat our buildings and workshops. We have made significant progress in recent years in tackling our scope 1 emissions, with a reduction of almost 80% since 2022.

Scope 2

Scope 2 emissions reduced by 1.5% on a market-based basis. We continue to move to all REGO (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) certified electric contracts within the port estate and expect to see further reductions in the next reporting period.

Scope 3

Scope 3 emissions reduced by 3.5%, led by a 57.4% fall in downstream leased asset emissions. This reflects a combination of lower tenant energy use and continued improvement in the quality of data we receive from tenants as we continue to support their decarbonisation goals.

Total vessel emissions rose by 0.7% despite the drop in vessel traffic, as vessels spent an average of three additional minutes at berth compared with 2024. Our carbon intensity metric - kg of CO²e per vessel tonnage handled – increased from 1.3 in 2024 to 1.4 in 2025 as the tonnage handled reduced year-on-year.

We expect to see the benefit of introducing shore power at ten berths reflected in the next reporting period.

To be achieved in 2025

Shore Power in Operation
The ZEVI partnership will design and deliver the first large-scale landside and vessel-side shore power system in Scotland by end of Q1 2025. The demonstrator project will cut vessel emissions at the berths by more than 80% compared with burning marine fuel.

Serco NorthLink passenger ferries
Port of Aberdeen is installing shore power facilities for Serco NorthLink’s MV Hrossey and MV Hjaltland passenger ferries within the port’s North Harbour. The ferries will ‘plug-in’ to a clean electrical power source, through the port’s renewable energy tariff, while berthed in Aberdeen from Q1 2025.

Bibby Marine eSOV
Port of Aberdeen is installing shore power facilities within the port's North Harbour for the Bibby Marine lead ZEVI project to build the first electric SOV (eSOV) in the UK. The shore power installation will be operational by end of Q1 2025.

Industry recognition

Port of Aberdeen was awarded the Sustainable Supplier Award at the 2025 Scottish Green Energy Supply Chain Awards,

The sustainable supplier accolade recognises and celebrates the port’s strategic net zero vision to becoming the UK’s first net zero port by 2040, and significant contribution to long-term maritime decarbonisation through the delivery of its £4 million Shore Power in Operation project – the first of its kind in the UK to address Scope 3 emissions from client vessels, driving net zero progress across the wider supply chain.

“Port of Aberdeen is proud to be setting the standard for maritime decarbonisation in the UK. Guided by our Net Zero Strategy, we are committed to sustainable growth and determined to lead the way towards becoming the UK’s first net zero port by 2040."
BOB SANGUINETTI DL
CEO, PORT OF ABERDEEN

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