Nuclear stations
Scotland has:
- one nuclear station currently generating electricity
- one civil nuclear site in the defueling stage
- three civil nuclear sites at advanced stages of decommissioning
- three nuclear defence sites
The table below shows their owners, operators, current activities and status.
Site |
Owner |
Operator |
Current activities |
Type |
Status |
Dounreay, Caithness |
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority |
Magnox Ltd |
Former research and prototype operation of fast reactors. Now being decommissioned |
Civil |
Decommissioning |
Hunterston A, North Ayrshire |
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority |
Magnox Ltd |
Now being decommissioned. Preparing for long term care and maintenance |
Civil |
Decommissioning |
Chapelcross, Dumfries |
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority |
Magnox Ltd |
Now being decommissioned. Preparing for long term care and maintenance |
Civil |
Decommissioning |
Hunterston B, North Ayrshire |
EDF Energy |
EDF Energy Nuclear |
Now being decommissioned. |
Civil |
Decommissioning |
Torness, East Lothian |
EDF Energy |
EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Ltd |
AGR reactors. Generating electricity |
Civil |
Operational |
Rosyth Royal Dockyard Ltd, Fife |
Babcock International Group |
Rosyth Royal Dockyard Ltd |
Small inventory of radioactive waste. Preparing to decommission defueled submarines |
Defence |
Operational |
Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment |
Ministry of Defence |
Rolls-Royce |
Former Submarine test reactor. Preparing for future decommissioning |
Defence |
Operational |
Clyde Naval Base (comprising Faslane and Coulport) |
Ministry of Defence |
Royal Navy / Babcock International Group |
Naval base |
Defence |
Operational |
We are supportive of extending the operating lifespan of Torness, if strict environment and safety criteria continue to be met.
Prolonging the life of this station could help to ensure Scotland retains a secure energy supply, while we increase the proportion of energy generated by enewables and cleaner thermal generation technologies.
Opposition to new nuclear stations
We oppose the building of new nuclear stations using current technologies. We believe that nuclear power represents poor value for consumers. This is clear from the contract awarded by the UK Government to Hinkley Point C nuclear station in Somerset, which will result in energy consumers subsidising its operation until 2060.