Current status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 5 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding any impact that the reduction of firm power capacity following the closure of the Hunterston B power station in 2022 has had on constraint payments made to balance the grid.
The management of the grid and the administration of constraint payments are reserved matters and are the responsibility of the UK Government and the National Energy System Operator. The Scottish Government has no role in setting or administering such payments.
The Scottish Government regularly engages with the UK Government and system operators on investment in transmission infrastructure which is required to reduce constraint costs.