Comment

Claims that Scotland needs a new nuclear power stations to meet a shortfall in generating capacity are unfounded, argues Bill Robertson.

Power for Scotland – The non-nuclear one

If Hunterston B Nuclear Power Station (1,190 MW) licence is not extended beyond 2011 will ‘the lights go out in Scotland’? The answer is no but our exports of electricity might be expected to drop.

Where are we with our new base load power stations?

1) A 350 MW prototype carbon free Power Station [1] near Peterhead is planned to be operational by 2009.This plant would convert natural gas to hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases, use the hydrogen as the power station fuel and export the carbon dioxide to a North Sea reservoir for increased oil recovery of up to 40 million barrels of oil and extend the life of the Miller oilfield by 15 to 20 years.

2) A 100 MW Hydro Power Station [2] at Glendoe near Fort Augustus is planned to be operational by the winter of 2008 with another 20 MW [3] of small hydro power stations in planning.

3) The modernised Peterhead Oil and Gas Fired Power Station [4] has a total capacity of
2,345 MW but its output is restricted to 1,524 MW due to lack of grid capacity. If the grid was strengthened this would make a further 821 MW of power available.

4) Scottish and Southern Energy acquired a 120 MW Gas Fired Power Station in Fife [5] which they completely upgraded and put into operation in December 2004.

5) There will be an additional 400 MW Gas Fired Plant at Westfield in Fife. [6]

6) There are now currently 50 MW of Biomass and Waste fuelled power stations [3] and a further 44 MW Biomass Waste power station in Lockerbie [7] will be in use by end of 2007.

These stations indicate the availability of 1,900 MW of new generating capacity being available before the possible closure of Hunterston B in 2011.

Our lights will definitely not go out if this happens.

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1 Energy Institute-Energy World September 2005
2 Scottish Executive News Release- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/07/28102617
3 Scottish Renewables Market & Planning Report Issue 1 July 2005
4 Scottish and Southern Energy plc Environmental Report 2001.Grid status confirmed by Scottish and Southern Energy on 13 September 2005 as unchanged.
5 Scottish and Southern Energy plc Annual Report 2005
6 Scottish Executive News Release- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2003/06/3647
7 Renewable Energy Access-18 October 2005
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=38068

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Bill Robertson is a Chartered Engineer
Experience has spanned Marine, Nuclear and Building Services Engineering
Convener of SNP Renfrewshire Riverside Branch