A MAJOR Scottish union has told MPs and MSPs there will be "no net zero" without a new generation of 'low carbon' nuclear power stations to replace those that are shutting down.

GMB Scotland, the union for energy workers in Scotland, warned Scottish politicians they run the risk of missing out without sorting plans to replace Hunterston B and Torness power plants.  

It comes as COP26 gathers in Glasgow and the UK Government brings forward legislation on a new funding mechanism for new nuclear build, with the second reading of the Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill taking place in the House of Commons later on Wednesday.

There has been speculation that French energy giant EDF Torness in Scotland and Heysham 2 near Lancaster could both be forced to shut years before their planned 2030 closure dates.

It has already announced that Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B, the first two advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) plants to open in 1976, will shut by next year rather than 2023 as planned because of cracking in the graphite cores that has already caused prolonged safety outages.

The UK government has announced legislation that could potentially fund a new nuclear programme, which is anticipated to start with a new £20bn Sizewell C nuclear power plant, supporting the potential of 233,000 full-time equivalent jobs over the lifetime of the project, and more than 24,000 jobs during construction.   TheSizewell C site could generate 3.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to provide 7% of the UK's needs.

But it has proved controversial with campaigners saying it is "ridiculously expensive" and that taxpayers will have to foot the bill for extra costs.

GMB has written to all MPs and also MSPs, calling for them to put aside “obstructive dogmas” and get serious in fighting for a replacement nuclear programme to meet net zero targets and secure low-carbon jobs.  

The Herald:

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser said:   “Scotland is the most dependent nation on nuclear energy across the UK - it provides us with the reliable, high output electricity baseload needed to complement the intermittence of renewables  “Bluntly there will be no net zero without new nuclear. Phase-outs won’t work – we need only look at Germany, where nuclear decommissioning has led to a rapid increase in coal-fired production.   

“We need to deliver the next generation of low-carbon jobs, and policies that lead to redundancies without transition won’t be forgotten in energy communities like North Ayrshire and East Lothian.   “Let’s learn the lessons from a decade of broken promises over the delivery of jobs in offshore wind and take people with us on the journey to net zero by providing clean, green employment opportunities.

“It is vital that politicians reject the siren voices and the obstructive dogmas. If we want to meet our climate ambitions, create jobs and keep the lights on then Scotland needs new nuclear.”   Last week business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced funding rules to pave the way for Sizewell.

The proposed plant is still subject to planning approval, but until now, the Treasury has been uncertain of how to pay for it.

The government said the new financing model could help cut the cost of new nuclear power projects in Britain, saving consumers more than £30bn on each new large-scale station.