SNP condemns ‘nuclear obsession’ after UK government says Scotland has ‘high potential’

EDF

THE SCOTTISH government has warned against a “nuclear obsession” after the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) claimed that Scotland has “high potential” for new nuclear sites. 

In a technical study commissioned by UK energy secretary Ed Miliband, Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) assessed the suitability of six sites across Scotland to develop new projects, concluding that they all satisfy key geographical and planning requirements. 

The study assessed 11 geospatial factors that affect a site’s suitability to host nuclear reactors, including groundwater, topography and access to cooling water and electricity grid infrastructure. GBE-N also considered the minimum distance from military sites and local population density. 

GBE-N looked at the online Torness plant, the Dounreay and Hunterston plants currently being decommissioned, and three brownfield locations with no nuclear history across Stirling, the Angus Coast and the north shore of the Firth of Forth estuary. The three new sites would each benefit from access to energy infrastructure, GBE-N found, with Angus also benefiting from an “experienced” workforce in offshore wind, and oil and gas. 

However, nuclear development at each new location would be complicated by its proximity to Control of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) sites, the report cautioned. GBE-N also found that flood risk at the Firth of Forth location is a “notable constraint”, while Stirling would be limited by cooling water because it would rely on river abstraction. The report advised that, as an inland site, Stirling may be better suited to small-scale reactors than GW-scale power stations. 

The report stressed that “further analysis would be required to determine the commercial case” for developing nuclear projects at any of the six locations. 

The UK government celebrated GBE-N’s report, arguing that it demonstrated Scotland’s “high potential” for new nuclear projects, following outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s ambition to make the UK a “leading nuclear nation”. However, the governing Scottish National Party (SNP) doubled down on its longstanding opposition to nuclear power, accusing the UK government of being “locked into an obsession with nuclear energy”, instead urging greater focus on renewable energy such as offshore wind - whose capital budget the SNP government cut in January. 

Nuclear power is funded and regulated by the UK government, but new projects in Scotland would require Scottish government approval, denial of which is official SNP policy. The party’s statement added: “Scotland does not need dangerous extortionate nuclear white elephants built in our communities against our will”. 

While the SNP governs with a minority in the Scottish parliament, opposition to nuclear power is the majority position with support from the Scottish Greens. The party’s Kristopher Leask said: “Instead of pouring money into expensive nuclear projects, the UK government should be backing renewable energy that can create jobs, cut bills and strengthen energy security at a fraction of the cost.

“Our priority should be creating clean, green, secure jobs that support nuclear workers into new industries while revitalising communities across Scotland.”