Overview

• A recent poll found that 52% of SNP voters from the 2021 Holyrood elections support including nuclear energy to meet Scotland's 2045 net zero goal.
• The SNP maintains its opposition to new nuclear power plants, citing safety concerns and high costs, and plans to use devolved planning powers to block them.
• Scotland's only remaining nuclear plant, Torness, continues to operate with a decommissioning date extended to 2030, while Hunterston B was closed in 2022.
• Westminster and industry groups advocate for new nuclear projects, including small modular reactors, citing economic and energy security benefits.
• Renewables provided about 70% of Scotland’s electricity in 2023, but nuclear still accounts for 15%, highlighting ongoing capacity concerns as older plants phase out.