Nuclear's power: The Torness and Hunterston B plants together produced enough clean power on November 2 for all the homes in Scotland, according to the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA). Over their lifetimes, the two plants have generated enough electricity to power every home in Scotland for nearly 15 years. In total, their output has saved 400 million metric tons of carbon emissions, more than any other green energy assets in Scottish history, the NIA noted.
Scotland relies on nuclear more than any other nation in the United Kingdom. Hunterston B will close in two months, after 45 years of service. Torness is scheduled to retire in 2030.
Hitting net zero: “This nuclear-powered COP is living proof of why we need nuclear to hit net zero: It provides clean, reliable electricity to keep the lights on at this critical conference,” said Tom Greatrex, the NIA’s chief executive. “As the U.K. government and governments around the world have recognized, nuclear is an essential green energy source to save our planet.”
The NIA is the trade association for the civil nuclear industry and represents more than 250 companies across the U.K.’s nuclear supply chain.
U.K. bullet points:
- The U.K. has seven operating nuclear power plants, providing about 16 percent of the country’s electricity.
- Nuclear has saved the U.K. 2.3 billion metric tons of carbon emissions, far more than any other source. The saving is equivalent to all U.K. emissions from 2015 through 2020.
- Four nuclear plants will retire by March 2024, including Hunterston B by 7 January 2022.
