THE nuclear power industry contributed £1 billion to Scotland’s economy last year and supports more than 12,000 jobs.
Research by experts at Oxford Economics, carried out for the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA), examined the contribution the country’s two nuclear power stations made to the economy, and that of other companies involved in supplying them.
More than 4,000 people are directly employed in the sector, the research found, but when companies that supply the industry are added, it rose to more than 12,000.
Herald View: Smaller energy suppliers are key to fair competition
Scotland has two nuclear power stations in operation – Hunterston B in North Ayrshire and Torness in East Lothian – but companies north of the border are also involved in supplying the new Hinkley Point C project and in decommissioning work at the Dounreay station in the Highlands.
About a fifth (21 per cent) of all the UK’s electricity came from nuclear power in 2016 – making it the second-largest single source of energy behind gas.
Torness alone produced enough electricity for 2.5 million homes – the largest output of any nuclear power station in the UK.
Energy from Torness and Hunterston B produced carbon savings that were the equivalent of taking almost all of the cars in Scotland off the road.
Herald View: Smaller energy suppliers are key to fair competition
NIA chief executive Tom Greatrex said: “The nature of the nuclear sector means it creates wealth and prosperity across the country – supporting families and non-nuclear businesses in areas where traditionally jobs have been hard to come by.”
The Scottish Government is opposed to the development of new nuclear power stations and Hunterston B and Torness are due to close by 2030.
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