Greene: Fresh eyes needed to assess small modular reactors

During National Apprenticeship Week, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson and West of Scotland MSP Jamie Greene has urged the next Scottish Government to look at small modular nuclear reactors with fresh eyes as new figures emerged which suggest England has added 43,000 nuclear jobs in last decade, versus just 490 in Scotland.

Small modular reactors (SMRs), the first of which is set to be built in Anglesey, will be compact nuclear power plants built in factories and assembled on site, designed to generate low-carbon electricity more flexibly, cheaply and safely than traditional large reactors.

The SNP Government currently uses its control of planning law to prevent any nuclear projects from proceeding in Scotland.

Economy spokesperson Jamie Greene said:

“Traditional nuclear plants are not without their drawbacks, but small modular reactors have the potential to change the game. They could provide the perfect complement to Scottish renewables by providing a reliable baseline for when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.

“That’s why our party conference agreed to open the door to exploring nuclear projects through the same cost-benefit analysis that is applied to other forms of energy.

“Sky high energy bills are hurting households and businesses. It’s one of the biggest issues facing our country. We need to bring down those bills and secure high quality, engineering jobs for Scotland rather than see expertise, jobs, investment and growth head south of the border.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats will end the current Scottish Government’s ideological opposition so that small modular reactors are looked at with fresh eyes.

“At the forthcoming election, it’s clear that Scotland needs change with fairness at its heart. My party has a realistic plan to back business, cut the cost of living and boost energy security in an uncertain world.”