Nuclear power in Scotland

Scotland has a long history of nuclear research and electricity generation. Work started on the Dounreay reactor in 1955.

Year	TWh	Share
2004	18.83	37.71%
2005	19.67	39.68%
2006	14.91	28.77%
2007	13.14	27.58%
2008	15.86	31.91%
2009	16.68	32.71%
2010	15.29	30.93%
2011	16.89	33.21%
2012	17.05	33.87%
2013	18.50	34.89%
2014	16.63	33.24%
2015	17.76	34.60%
2016	19.63	42.97%
2017	17.83	36.50%
2018	13.61	27.96%
2019	12.23	24.65%
2020	13.46	25.96%
2021	14.47	30.30%
2022	7.94	15.79%

Four other sites provided electricity to the National Grid in Scotland, however generation ceased at Hunterson A in 1990 and at Chapelcross in 2004. Between 2004 and 2021, nuclear energy accounted for 25–43% of the annual electricity generation in Scotland. As of 2022, there is only one remaining operating nuclear power station in Scotland.
The Scottish National Party government elected in 2007 had a 'no new nuclear power strategy'. This position is at odds with UK government policy which in January 2008 announced the go-ahead for new nuclear power stations to be built across the United Kingdom. In response, Scotland's then First Minister Alex Salmond commented there was 'no chance' of new nuclear power stations being built in Scotland. The Parliament voted 63–58 to support the policy of opposing new nuclear power stations, taking advantage of a loophole which permits a veto on planning, despite lacking authority over the UK energy policy. Others support nuclear as part of a sustainable, clean energy policy.

Nuclear reactors in Scotland

Power station reactors

Chapelcross, Dumfries and Galloway
Hunterston A, North Ayrshire
Hunterston B, North Ayrshire – EDF Energy owned AGR
Torness, East Lothian – EDF Energy owned AGR

Research reactors

Dounreay
*VULCAN
*PWR2 –
*DMTR –
*Dounreay Fast Reactor – Fast breeder reactor
*Prototype fast reactor –
East Kilbride – Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre

Nuclear-powered vessels

HMNB Clyde is the homeport of the nuclear-powered submarines of the Vanguard and Astute classes:

seven nuclear-powered submarines were stored at Rosyth Dockyard after decommissioning and the removal of their fuel:

Public opinion

In 2013, a YouGov energy survey concluded that:
By 2020, an IMechE survey found that support for nuclear had increased to 49% in favour.