CLIMATE campaigners have slammed parliamentarian pleas for the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to back a controversial new carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in Aberdeenshire as “a fossil fuel polluters’ pipe dream” today.

A cross-party group of 71 MSPs and 10 MPs wrote to Ms Reeves demanding she release the cash necessary to take the long-delayed Acorn CCS scheme — which would capture carbon released in burning fossil fuels and pump it into depleted North Sea oil wells — into the next stage of development.

Arguing the project could generate £17.7 billion for Britain’s economy, safeguard 18,000 jobs and create 15,000 more, the letter read: “Without it there is no viable route for Scottish industry to decarbonise.

“We urge you to take the necessary action to ensure that Acorn is delivered at pace.”

But Friends of the Earth Scotland’s Caroline Rance said the CCS claims “do not stand up to the slightest scrutiny,” adding: “The Acorn project is a fossil fuel polluters’ pipe dream and will never live up to the hype.”

Echoing the sentiment, Green MSP Maggie Chapman told the Star: “The money being poured into unproven and costly CCS technology could be far better spent on building and expanding our green industries to create thousands of well paid and good quality jobs and lower our reliance on fossil fuels that are punishing bill payers.

“Scotland has the skilled workers and resources to be a global leader in renewable technology that will make a real difference here and now, including slashing energy bills.”

A UK government spokesperson said: “We recognise the value of the Acorn project to Scotland and our wider clean power plan.

“Carbon capture requires significant resources and it is right that it is considered within the spending review.”