Scotland needs and uses nuclear power. Thanks to Torness, our homes are lit, our dinners are hot, and more and more of our cars and even buses are reliably on the road. Crucially, nuclear energy is helping Scotland meet its ambitious clean power goals.

That’s the established case for nuclear, but technological breakthroughs mean the argument is becoming even more compelling. Small modular reactors (SMRs) could revolutionise not just nuclear power but the entire UK industrial landscape. Without a policy shift at Holyrood, Scotland risks being left behind.

The Small Modular Reactor (SMR) concept is elegantly simple: take proven reactor designs, standardise components, and fabricate them on a smaller scale in factories before assembling them on-site. This innovative method eliminates the complexity and immense cost of previous nuclear plants, dramatically reducing commercial risks.

Though still emerging, the leap from prototype to commercial viability are considerably reduced for Rolls Royce, the UK firm chosen by the government to build a demonstration SMR. With a heritage dating back to the 1950s at Dounreay and the launch........

© Herald Scotland