The SNP’S Energy Secretary has been accused of failing to understand his own government’s policy after rejecting nuclear power from a new technology his administration has insisted it is open to looking at.
Michael Matheson, the Scottish Government’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Secretary, has insisted that his administration will continue to oppose the development of nuclear power stations in Scotland.
The UK Government has placed a new generation of nuclear power plants at the heart of its new energy strategy, published yesterday.
Although energy is reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government has devolved powers to block developments through planning regulations.
None of the eight new nuclear hubs are planned to be built in Scotland.
But the UK Government is also hoping to use small modular reactors as part of its plan – which are smaller and cheaper and can be constructed in a factory and put together on site.
READ MORE: UK energy strategy sets out huge ambition but fails to tackle demand
The Scottish Government’s stated nuclear power strategy states that it continues to oppose nuclear power “under current technologies”.
But the policy points to “new technologies”, which the document uses small modular reactors as an example.
It says: “We are aware of increasing interest in the development of new nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors.
“We have a duty to assess this and all other new technologies based on safety, value for consumers, and contribution to Scotland’s low-carbon economy and energy future.”
But the Scottish Government has insisted that small modular reactors actually fall under current technology.
A UK Government source told the Herald that a key thread of its joint working with SNP minsiters would be to understand "the Scottish Government’s evolving policy positions".
A Scottish Government Spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is absolutely clear in our opposition to the building of new traditional nuclear fission energy plants in Scotland under current technologies.
“Small modular reactors, while innovative in construction and size, still generate electricity using nuclear fission and therefore the process presents the same environmental concerns as traditional nuclear power plants.
READ MORE: SNP Government opening up to nuclear power in independent Scotland would be 'catastrophic'
“We believe that significant growth in renewables, storage, hydrogen and carbon capture provides the best pathway to net zero by 2045, and will deliver the decarbonisation we need to see across industry, heat and transport."
The Scottish Government has delayed the publictaion of its first energy strategy since 2017 until the autumn.
The Scottish Conservatives have called on the Scottish Government to give up its ideological opposition to nuclear power.
Liam Kerr, Scottish Conservative shadow secretary for net zero, energy and transport, said: "As ever, the SNP push their own agenda with no regard for their responsibilities as a party of government.
"Any capable coalition would be looking at the data and the science behind nuclear as one of many solutions to help our energy security. But not the shambles they have cobbled together with the Greens.
"Michael Matheson has not done any homework about the benefits of nuclear and its potential to contribute to the low-carbon economy. He hasn't even checked the Scottish Government's own policy."
A UK Government source said: “We want to work with the Scottish Government to ensure Scotland is at the heart of future energy plans and the vital twin drive towards net zero and greater self-sufficiency.
“Understanding the Scottish Government’s evolving policy positions will be key to that joint working.”
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel