That the Parliament welcomes the reported announcement by EDF Energy of a two-year life extension for Torness Nuclear Power Station, which, it believes, will now generate clean reliable energy until 2030; considers that Torness is Scotland’s most productive clean energy asset ever, producing enough clean electricity to power every home in Scotland for nearly 30 years whilst avoiding over 100 million tonnes of CO2; believes that this extension will allow nuclear power to continue cutting bills, with analysis from Britain Remade estimating that the Torness and Hesham ll extensions could save consumers up to £75 per year off their bills, and protect 750 highly skilled, well-paid and long-term jobs in a proud nuclear community; further believes that the continued operation of Torness will improve grid stability, providing 1,200 MW of predictable, reliable energy capacity, which is absolutely vital in light of routine warnings from the National Grid that Great Britain has had less than 500 MW between electricity supply and demand, and commends what it sees as the significant role that the Torness extension will play in supporting Scotland’s transition to a net zero future, enhancing energy security and underpinning economic resilience in the South Scotland region.
Supported by:
Jackie Baillie, Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Foysol Choudhury (Registered interest)
, Murdo Fraser, Mark Griffin, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Michael Marra, Pauline McNeill, Douglas Ross, Colin Smyth, Paul Sweeney, Brian Whittle