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Scottish Parliament to Resist UK Pressure for New Nuclear Plants

Posted on: Friday, 14 November 2008, 09:00 CST

The UK government's plan to build new nuclear plants north of the border has met opposition from the SNP, but the decision to choose this matter as an ideological battle may have serious consequences for security of supply issues. With investment in renewable energy dwindling, and the political and environmental costs of gas and coal too great to bear, nuclear may be the only option.

The interdependence of energy supply and demand shows little regard for geopolitical boundaries, no matter how well established. The UK as a whole is facing an increasingly narrow capacity margin as a number of its aging fleet of thermal power stations approach the end of their lives, and the reliability of its existing nuclear stations falters.

Intentions to "go green" and implement a large-scale increase in renewable energy sources are noble, and Scotland's natural resources, including extensive coastline and space for wind farms, may seem ideal. However, in many cases, the reality is rather different. Objections to the development required to build these renewable energy generators frequently delay them until they are abandoned or become uneconomical, and can also prevent the relevant infrastructure being built to carry the energy generated to the sites of demand.

Recent announcements from companies such as BP and Shell indicate that opportunities for investment in renewable energy sources are better elsewhere, and consequently they have moved their operations. If this trend continues, it may become increasingly optimistic to think that renewable energy sources - accepted as operating only infrequently or more frequently at reduced capacity - will be sufficient to cater for the demand in years to come.

One alternative solution to the potential shortage of energy would be the construction of more conventional gas or coal-fired power stations. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the cost of more gas and coal power stations is potentially too high in environmental or political terms, either due to an increased dependence on foreign sources for the wholesale fuel or due to the scale of carbon emissions from these plants and the complex rules and regulations that accompany this. The only alternative, it seems, is nuclear power.

Investment in the nuclear industry is currently one of the few areas of the down-turned economy that is still strong, with considerable enthusiasm from investors in the UK. Furthermore, Scotland has a history of nuclear power; the last reactors were closed only recently and, as such, it is not a leap of imagination to see that there is potentially a skilled workforce already largely in place.

However, Alex Salmond, the SNP First Minister of the Scottish Parliament, has stated that Scotland will not allow the construction of new nuclear power stations within its jurisdiction.

In plans submitted to the Calman Commission, the UK government may grant permission for a new nuclear license in Scotland. However, the Scottish Parliament will retain the right to grant or deny planning permission for this, and it seems likely that Holyrood will indeed use these clauses to delay the building of a new nuclear power station within Scottish borders for as long as possible.

The SNP therefore looks set for an ideological battle of wills with the UK government over the extent to which Westminster can influence affairs north of the border. However, the choice of battleground may cause the Scottish more harm than good in the long run should the capacity margin fall further.

Source: Datamonitor

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