The application for the power station was consented on the same day that Holyrood debated the issues of climate change and climate justice.

North East Scotland Green MSP Maggie Chapman said the existing gas-powered station at Peterhead was “Scotland’s largest source of climate pollution”.

She added that “instead of tackling that and reducing its impact, the government has decided to expand it”.

The Scottish government previously said a decision would be taken “following consideration of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public”.

The current Peterhead facility has been generating electricity for more than four decades but it is now the last in Scotland to burn fossil fuels.