The SNP Government's ban on the building of nuclear power stations in Scotland will stop the country benefiting from a programme to develop smaller reactors that is expected to create thousands of jobs in England.

The SNP Government’s opposition to new nuclear power plants is looking increasingly unwise as other countries embrace the technology in the belief it will support energy security, job numbers and the drive to net zero.

Nuclear is becoming the solution of choice as states wonder how to generate the huge amounts of electricity the data centres that will power the rise of Artificial Intelligence will require.

With US technology companies anxious to secure future power supplies, some have struck long-term deals to buy nuclear energy. Microsoft will take power generated from the US’s revamped Three Mile Island plant, which was the scene of the worst nuclear disaster in US history in 1979.

The Scottish Government has highlighted the potential for Scotland to become a force in the data centre industry, with 12 sites reckoned to be suitable for major developments.

However, this has not prompted it to abandon the longstanding opposition to the building of new nuclear plants that has helped the SNP win support from greens in its campaigning for independence.

The Scottish Government has stuck with the policy despite claims nuclear power can play a key role in the drive to net zero which it wants to accelerate.

Nuclear’s appeal is reinforced by the fact it can be used to provide a source of baseload power that is always available and gives rise to limited carbon emissions. Renewables facilities such as windfarms and solar energy plants only generate power when weather conditions suit.

The latest Scottish energy statistics show how variable their output can be. The amount of........

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