AN environmentally-friendly energy firm wants to build an experimental green energy park at a former Scottish nuclear plant, which could create more than 500 jobs.
Scotia Global Energy has put forward ambitious plans to transform the Chapelcross 90-hectare site near Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, claiming it is “ideally positioned” for a hybrid power station intended to radically reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The development would also include a 10,000 sq ft administration building – public exhibition space on the ground floor and flexible office accommodation on the first floor, laboratory space for energy research and a zone for four community energy projects.
The company has put its proposals to the Scottish Government and Dumfries and Galloway Council, as well as Scottish Enterprise and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
A report on the plans stated that the existing electricity grid connection, its proximity to the gas grid and the water abstraction facilities that are on site are an “ideal mix”, the report added.
It claims a development company set up to manage the early stages of the project could initially support five jobs.
However, the report said: “As the site matures, the manufacturing supply chain operations could support several hundreds of jobs conceivably exceeding the site’s historical peak of 500 jobs.”
Dumfries and Galloway Council said it was working with Scottish Enterprise and the NDA on the regeneration of the Chapelcross site.
A council spokesman said: “The council, along with Scottish Enterprise and the NDA, are working together to bring forward proposals for the regeneration of the Chapelcross site. The partners recognise that the Chapelcross site represents a major opportunity to attract inward investment and create new jobs which will have a positive impact on the regional economy. The vision for the site is to develop a sustainable, mixed use approach providing opportunities for large and small scale businesses across a range of sectors. It is highly likely that the energy sector will play a prominent role within that mix, with opportunities for research and development, generation, and storage.”
An NDA spokesman told the BBC they have had one “exploratory meeting” with a representative of Scotia Global Energy. He added: “The idea for an ‘integrated energy centre’ seems to fit in general terms with the emerging development framework for the Chapelcross site but we would need considerably more details before giving serious consideration to this proposal.”
The Chapelcross Works was the sister plant to Calder Hall in Cumbria and was officially opened in May 1959 by the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfriesshire, Sir John Crabbe.
The main purpose of the site was to produce plutonium for the UK’s nuclear weapons programme and electricity was always viewed as to be a by-product. Ownership of all of the site was transferred to the NDA, when it was set up as the new regulatory body by The Energy Act of 2004.
The plant stopped operating in June 2004 and decommissioning work began the following year, which included demolishing the cooling towers, and by 2013 all four reactors were removed.
Scotia Global Energy was not available for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here