Scientists Back Calls for New Nuclear Reactor at Torness

Jun 19 - Evening News; Edinburgh (UK)

A group of leading scientists has backed plans to build a new nuclear reactor at Torness Power Station in a bid to halt Scotland's looming energy crisis.

A report by the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) published today said the building of new reactors at existing sites should be considered alongside renewable forms of energy such as wind turbines.

The George Street-based RSE is an independent club of 1400 scientists and has been carrying out a review of energy supply and demand in Scotland up to 2050.

Two of Scotland's nuclear power stations, Torness near Dunbar and Hunterston in Ayrshire, are due to close within the next twenty years and the RSE report claims new reactors will secure the future of electricity supplies and help deal with cutting the problem of greenhouse gas emissions.

It is claimed that building on the existing sites would come up against less resistance from locals and could shorten the lengthy planning process needed for new reactors.

A decision on whether to build new nuclear power plants and how to deal with nuclear waste needs to be taken within the next year according to the RSE.

Torness Power Station was expected to close in 2023 but owner British Energy is currently considering updating vital equipment that could extend Torness' operating life by decades.

Bosses at the Dunbar plant, which provides nearly a quarter of Scotland's electricity, say replacing parts of the station, such as pumps and transformers, will add years to its output.

Last year, the Government announced a fresh review of how the UK's ageing nuclear power stations can be replaced, which environmentalists believe will give the green light to build a new generation of nuclear power stations.

The Green lobby favours harnessing renewable energy sources, but pro-nuclear campaigners say renewable energy will not make up for the fact that 50 per cent of Scotland's electricity comes from its two nuclear plants.

The RSE report claims that if the government decides to go down the nuclear route then it should consider the two existing nuclear sites in Scotland.

The report states: "The period to commission a nuclear plant could be shortened by designating existing nuclear sites as already licensed. This has the advantage that the grid connection infrastructure is already in place. There is potentially limited local opposition from communities that have become accustomed to working in and with the nuclear industry and are aware of the health and safety record of British nuclear power stations.

"The new generation of reactors are half the size and half the cost of the Sizewell reactor".

Among the other recommendations put forward by the RSE is the establishment of an Energy Agency for Scotland, which would have responsibility for promotion of energy efficiency for businesses and householders.

The RSE has also backed calls for a carbon tax applied at the point of carbon production, which is likely to hit big industry polluters such as coal-fired power stations.

Critics have claimed the experts chosen by the RSE to compile the report were biased towards nuclear energy and among the panel was Dr Robert Hawley, the former chief executive of Torness' operator British Energy.