Does nuclear power have a role in Scotland's energy future?

does-nuclear-power-have-a-role-in-scotland's-energy-future?
Does nuclear power have a role in Scotland's energy future?

The Scottish government has stood firm in its opposition to allowing the construction of new nuclear power stations, despite global efforts to increase nuclear energy as part of the drive towards achieving net zero carbon emissions. Although nuclear energy has traditionally been viewed as a hazardous and costly enterprise, developments in nuclear fusion have led many countries to view it as a cleaner, more reliable source of energy than fossil fuels. More than 20 countries from four continents, including the UK, USA, France, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates, recently signed a joint declaration on nuclear power at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, pledging to triple global output to help address climate change.

In Scotland, however, Energy Secretary Neil Gray has argued that nuclear energy is neither necessary nor desirable. Although Scotland currently has one active nuclear power plant – at Torness in East Lothian – it is expected to close by 2028, after which nuclear energy in Scotland will be generated south of the border. While the UK government has been openly supportive of new nuclear developments, Scottish government ministers have resisted the idea, citing concerns over cost and the

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