The consultation paper sets out a the Governments support for a balanced energy mix including thermal generation, which marks a move away from a reliance on renewables, Prospect has long campaigned around this issue and the Governments stance is welcomed in the submission.

The Prospect submission makes the argument for new nuclear to be part of this balanced energy mix, and notes the Governments apparent softening of it's position on new nuclear technologies as part of a future generating portfolio, as the consultation paper sets out the block on replacing Hunterston and Torness applies to power stations built "under current technologies".

Prospect also highlights the need for a greater role for Trade Unions in skills development, particularly in the renewables sector, for more investment in smartgrid technology and the need for the Scottish Government to fully engage with the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

The full submission is available in the Prospect library