Scotland doesn’t need any more energy, so why build a plant here?
A number of existing fossil fuel and nuclear power stations will close in the foreseeable future. Unless these are replaced an ‘energy gap’ will emerge in Scotland and the rest of the UK, and there is a risk that energy supplies will be disrupted and/or prices will increase significantly. Improvements in energy efficiency will certainly help to reduce this gap and renewable energy facilities will play an increasingly important role in the overall energy generation mix. Despite this, modern fossil fuelled power stations will continue to be needed to ensure a reliable supply of electricity under the anticipated demand scenarios. Coal is a readily available and cost effective fuel source and, together with other fossil fuels, will remain a key part of the overall fuel mix for the medium to long term. The Scottish Government and others believe that a mix of fuel sources is required to ensure security of electricity supply.
