Question reference: S6W-03856
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 21 October 2021
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 November 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Scotland's two nuclear power stations provide approximately 34% of Scotland’s daily electricity needs, from where that electricity will be sourced following their closure.
Answer
Scottish electricity supplies are currently considered secure. Security of supply is currently provided by a combination of large scale hydro, gas and nuclear power stations as well as the capacity to import electricity from elsewhere in the UK.
Maintaining a secure electricity supply will require increased investment in networks, greater interconnection to the rest of GB, growing electricity storage capacity (in particular pumped storage hydro), and other forms of low carbon generation. The Scottish energy strategy, published in December 2017, confirmed the Scottish Government’s continued opposition to new nuclear stations under current technologies. Our priority continues to be to support energy efficiency, develop Scotland’s huge renewable resource and to promote storage and flexibility.