Tories vow to change law to override SNP on new nuclear power

Torness nuclear power station is due to close in 2030 (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images

The Conservatives will pledge to override Holyrood and lift the SNP’s ban on new nuclear if they win the next general election.

Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie will announce at the party’s conference today that a Tory Government would bring in a law to ensure “no part of Great Britain misses out on plans for new nuclear renewal.”

He told SNP First Minister John Swinney to “bring it on” if he “wants to have a fight about it”.

The Labour UK Government currently wants to host small modular nuclear reactors in Scotland. But the SNP Scottish Government, which holds powers over planning, has blocked it due to its opposition to nuclear.

Mr Bowie said: "The SNP's effective ban on new nuclear energy in Scotland flies in the face of common-sense.

"No part of Great Britain should be missing out on plans for new nuclear renewal.

"That is why I am delighted to announce that the Conservatives will look to see how we can legislate to deliver new nuclear energy in Scotland.

"The SNP's luddite approach is costing jobs in Scotland, harming our energy security and ending Scotland's rich and powerful association with the nuclear industry.

"If John Swinney and SNP ministers want to have a fight over any plans that would deliver thousands of jobs and protect energy security, then I say bring it on."

The UK Government has suggested that Torness in East Lothian, Hunterston in North Ayrshire and Dounreay in Caithness could host small nuclear reactors. These all have grid transmission connections.

Torness is Scotland’s last remaining active nuclear power plant. The facility is scheduled to close by 2030.

Hunterston A in North Ayrshire shut down in 1990, while Hunterston B shut down in 2022.

The Scottish Government has an effective ban on new nuclear power plants. It says it is focusing on renewable energy instead.

Read more: 'UK spends twice as much switching off windfarms as it does on small nuclear reactors'

It comes after nuclear industry leaders said the UK government has paid almost twice as much to turn off windfarms in Scotland as it plans to spend on developing small modular nuclear reactors by the end of this decade.

The Nuclear Industry Association said ministers plan to invest £2.8 billion in the technology, compared with £5.1bn in so-called constraint payments that have been made since 2021.

Some £1.04bn was forked out in constraint payments this year up until the end of August. This is up from £648m in the same period last year.

Constraint payments are made to electricity generators when electricity generators are asked to turn off power because the grid is congested and cannot transport the power to where it is needed.

It is understood that the figure is much higher this year than last year because of high winds. More wind means more electricity generated - and if there is not enough capacity in the grid then generators are asked to turn off power.

In 2021, the year before Hunterston B nuclear power station in Ayrshire was retired, constraint payments were £250 million. They are on course to reach £1.5 billion this year.

Constraint payments in Scotland have been higher since the closure of Hunterston B in 2022 - and are likely to increase when Torness - Scotland’s last remaining power station - shuts in 2030.

Output that varies with the weather - such as electricity coming from wind farms - is much harder to balance with consumer demand than predictable, baseload output, and therefore much more expensive for the grid to manage.

The National Energy System Operator has forecast that balancing costs could double by the end of the decade, when Torness nuclear power station is due to retire, unless more transmission capacity is deployed.

Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said: “The Scottish Government is focused on supporting the development of Scotland’s remarkable renewable energy potential – which provides jobs, is safer and doesn’t leave a legacy of nuclear waste.

“For example industry reports estimate that offshore wind alone could support up to 49,000 jobs in Scotland - that is why it is at the centre of both our energy and our economic ambitions.”

A Labour spokesperson said: “This Labour government is kickstarting a new golden age of nuclear power with the biggest build-out of new nuclear in generations, creating tens of thousands of good jobs.

“The Conservative Party’s newfound enthusiasm for nuclear rings hollow given their 14 years of failure to build.

“Scotland has a proud history of nuclear power, but the SNP’s ideological opposition is costing Scotland jobs and investment. Labour commissioned Great British Energy - Nuclear to assess possible new sites and it found several areas with high potential.

“We stand ready to work with the Scottish Government to deliver, and urge them to abandon the ban for the sake of Scottish workers and communities.”