10 Dec (NucNet): New nuclear power plants should be considered if Scotland is to meet its future energy needs, according to an independent report conducted for the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
The report found that Scotland’s target of generating 50 percent of its energy from renewables by 2020 could be met, but recommended new nuclear should be considered for the longer term.
The Scottish government is opposed to the construction of new nuclear plants in the country.
But the report says that new nuclear should be considered for the longer term because of questions about how to replace existing power plants with low carbon alternatives after 2020. Existing nuclear and coal-fired station closures between 2020 and 2030 may bring a need for more capacity – or more reliance on imported electricity, the study found.
It also estimated that Scotland needs 10 billion pounds (11.4 billion euro, 14.8 billion US dollars) of investment in new electricity generation between now and 2020, and predicts a 10 percent rise in demand for electricity despite attempts to encourage more energy efficiency.
The report said the best mix of electricity would be a balanced combination of renewables and less carbon-intensive fossil fuel sources.
“It is our view that nuclear power should be considered as a potential part of the longer-term generation base in Scotland,” said the report.
“With Torness (nuclear power plant) and other power stations possibly being decommissioned after 2020, there are still questions about how we provide the baseload Scotland needs in the longer term,” said the report. “Carbon capture and clean coal may be available at that time, but we also believe that new nuclear should still be considered as an option to meet our longer term energy needs.”
There are two nuclear power plants in Scotland, Torness and Hunterston, both owned and operated by British Energy. Both plants have two commercially operational advanced gas-cooled reactor units. BE’s estimated decommissioning date for Torness is 2023 and for Hunterston 2016.
The report is available online (www.scdi.org.uk).
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