Scotland’s only working nuclear power station is set to stop generating in five years’ time. Torness, which has the capacity to power over two million homes and employs more than 500 people, will shut down for good and begin its decommissioning.
With no plans to replace it, and the Scottish Government staunchly opposed to any new nuclear, its closure after forty years of generating electricity, will mark the end of nuclear power in Scotland. Even as, in England, investment in new nuclear power is driving forward plans for Sizewell C and Rolls Royce small modular reactors, the SNP appears steadfast in rejecting it.
Against this backdrop of political tension, The Herald has teamed up with the East Lothian Courier for an in-depth series, The Future of Torness. Our team of journalists has worked together to look at everything from the current state and safety of Torness to ideas for its future, from decommissioning to fresh new options for the site.
Follow along with all the articles in the series here.
The Future of Torness: The Herald and East Lothian Courier team up for a series
Torness is set to close in 2030. The Herald and East Lothian Courier have teamed up to investigate the future of the site and its workers.
Day One
Plans for new nuclear reactors in Scotland brought forward ahead of 'golden age'
Plans have been brought forward for two new nuclear reactors in Scotland, reports Brian Donnelly.
How will Scots town be hit by closure of nuclear power station?
Each year, Torness Power Station brings in the region of about £45 million to the local economy but what will the town do without this money? Cameron Ritchie reports.
I spent a day at Torness power station – here's what it told me about its future
Torness nuclear power station is set to close in five years. Here's what a tour of its reactor and workers taught Vicky Allan about its future.
Proposal to convene expert summit on nuclear power in Scotland: Future of Torness
Plans for new reactors in Scotland have followed a promise of a 'golden nuclear age' ahead, reports Brian Donnelly.
'SNP’s dogmatic but out-dated opposition to nuclear has to waver'
It is hard to imagine John Swinney swinging from the chandeliers but, in another world, the first minister might be bringing down the ceilings in Bute House, writes GMB Scotland secretary Louise Gilmour.
'Why discard 40 years of nuclear expertise at Torness?'
MP Douglas Alexander on Torness' proud history of generating clean, reliable energy and providing skilled jobs.
How the future for Torness could be one that embraces renewables
MSP Paul McLennan on future of Torness Power Station and what it could look like.
SCRAM! The radical plot to bring down Scotland's last nuclear power plant
Anti-nuclear activists waged a futile battle to prevent the station from being built, with thousands of campaigners famously occupying the site in May 1978.
Day Two
'Shut it down' demands as Scotland's last nuclear plant breaches a safety limit
Demands have been made to shut Scotland's one remaining active nuclear power plant as it emerged a third of the central part of its reactor core is cracked, reports Martin Williams.
Why Torness can be base of new Scots nuclear revolution creating 1000s of jobs
Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association is arguing that Torness could be the starting point for new nuclear that would create thousands of jobs and generate billions in investment, reports Martin Williams.
Nuclear industry says ScotGov green plans are 'fraud' on nation with jobs for England
The nuclear industry has warned that a green energy vision being presented by the Scottish Government is a "fraud" on the nation that will bring jobs for England, reports Martin Williams.
Scotland's last nuclear power station: not all it's cracked up to be
Pete Roche, an Edinburgh-based independent energy policy consultant and long-time nuclear critic, discusses the future of Torness - and comes to an unequivocal conclusion.
Why is there disquiet over safety of Scotland's last nuclear power plant?
The Herald has revealed calls for the Torness nuclear power station to be shut down after it emerged an inspection found that Torness’s Reactor 1 had an estimated 585 cracks in its core bricks.
Day Three
'Torness has everything needed for small modular reactor,' says growth campaign
A UK infrastructure and growth campaign has said that Torness is “a prime site” for the next generation of small nuclear reactors, reports Vicky Allan.
'Torness has to decommission: but we'd welcome a new reactor'
Staff at one of East Lothian’s largest employers will be given the chance to retrain ahead of its closure in 2030, reports Cameron Ritchie.
How Torness will decommission and what it means for jobs
For more than 40 years, Torness Power Station has been a permanent fixture of the Dunbar landscape but what will happen to the staff and how do they retrain?
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