Alternative take

Published on Sunday 13 January 2008 20:56

JOHN McCLATCHEY, OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH INSTUTUTE, THURSO, ON THE NUCLEAR DEBATE

THE First Minister has noted that Scotland does not need nuclear power to meet its electricity needs and that the Scottish Government has targets of 31 per cent and 50 per cent renewable electricity by 2011 and 2020 (your report, 11 January). However, if a substantial expansion of nuclear power takes place in England and Wales, it could limit the opportunity for Scottish generators to export renewable power.

The Highlands and Islands have some of the greatest potential renewable energy resources in the world, but an expansion of nuclear power in the rest of the UK could inhibit the growth of renewable power.

The UK and Scotland have already lost the opportunity to lead the world in wind-power manufacturing, but a real commitment to renewable power research and development could lead to the growth of a marine-power and renewable-hydrogen industry and of expertise in integrated mixed renewable energy systems (there is already excellent renewable energy research here and in a number of universities and other organisations across Scotland). It will be particularly important to increase support for research and development as the expansion of nuclear power in the rest of the UK could well divert UK-wide research and development funds away from renewable energy.