LABOUR ministers have been slammed for identifying sites in Scotland for nuclear power plants despite the Scottish Government’s ongoing opposition to new developments.
The report from Great British Energy Nuclear, published on Tuesday, identified three sites already linked with nuclear power, and other areas they see as ripe for development in the Firth of Forth estuary and eastern coast of Scotland.
The report, which was ordered by UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in October last year, states that its purpose was to identify land areas that would be suitable for nuclear power plans “should the policy position of the Scottish Government change”.
It adds that Scotland has “land areas with high potential for new nuclear development”.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar vowed to end the SNP’s “ideological block” on nuclear power stations during the Holyrood election campaign. However, his party went on to suffer record losses and the SNP returned to government.
The report picks out six areas that the UK Government sees as ripe for the development of nuclear power plants, in particular Torness Nuclear Power Plant in East Lothian, which is scheduled to end operations in 2030, Dounreay Nuclear site in Caithness, and Hunterston Nuclear Power Plant and the surrounding coast in North Ayrshire.
Both Dounreay and Hunterston are currently being decommissioned.
The report also picked out three larger areas that would be top of the list for nuclear power plants – the north shore in the Firth of Forth Estuary, the south bank of the Forth in Stirling, and multiple sites along the Aberdeenshire and Angus east coast.
Areas around coasts were chosen, the report says, due to access to water for power station cooling.
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks claimed the report showed potential for new nuclear power in Scotland which would “boost the country’s energy security and deliver new jobs”.
“We are delivering a golden age of nuclear in England and Wales from Sizewell C to small modular reactors,” he added.
“Sadly, Scotland is missing out on the enormous economic and energy security potential.”
Tom Greatrex, chief executive at the Nuclear Industry Association, said that Scotland “deserves the same investment and opportunities” as England and Wales.
“It’s time for a new dialogue about energy policy and a robust, diverse mix of clean power sources,” he said.
“New nuclear in Scotland can play a key part in that and unlock new investment that strengthens energy security, supports local communities, and creates thousands of jobs.”
However, the SNP and Scottish Government reiterated their “principled opposition” to nuclear power and said the focus should be on renewable energy.
On the same day that the report was published, it emerged that Scotland generated a record amount of renewable electricity for the first quarter of this year.
Scotland continues to produce more energy than it consumes, figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s (DESNZ), showed.
“Our future lies in clean, affordable and secure power – strengthening affordability, resilience and competitiveness, and protecting people and businesses from their energy bills being dictated by international events,” First Minister John Swinney said in response.
“That is why powers over Scotland’s energy must be in Scotland’s hands, so we can make our vast energy wealth work for us and bring down bills.”
The SNP said that instead of “wasting billions of pounds” on setting up new nuclear projects, the UK Government should remove the windfall tax, deliver promised funding for capon capture and invest in the renewables sector.
Karen Adam, SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, added: "The Scottish Labour MPs who are behind this report should tell us who among them wants one of these extortionate, wasteful, and unnecessary nuclear plants built in their constituency.
"Scotland produces more energy than it uses – we simply do not need nuclear, and the UK government should focus on sorting out the UK's energy market, so the Scottish people can benefit from Scotland's immense energy wealth.
"If they won't, then the incoming Burnham government should devolve powers on energy – or better yet, devolve powers to hold a referendum on independence.
"With the fresh start with independence, we can use our vast energy wealth to lower bills, enhance our energy security and build a wealthier Scotland.”
It comes as Ofgem’s energy price cap is set to rise on July 1, with bills expecting to remain high into the winter months, despite repeated pledges by Labour in Westminster to reduce household costs.
