A green energy hub will be built at Chapelcross by the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). This hub will include hydrogen production and storage.

Chapelcross is near Annan and it is a former 210-hectare nuclear and it is one of the sites that the Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) has chosen to safely and securely decommission. Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) is an NDA subsidiary. This process began in 2004, when the plant stopped generating electricity and this was followed by its cooling towers being decommissioned a little while after.

Currently, the NDA are focused on finding a strategic developer which will work on the multi-million-pound project and bring expertise and private finance to deliver the site. Both the Scottish and UK governments have provided support with more than £15.3m.  

The companies involved are looking to begin construction on this project as soon as possible, so therefore the deadline for all Strategic Developer Proposals must be submitted by October 25, 2024. Alongside this, the NDA has already planned to make an appointment in early 2025.

As well as support from the Governments, the Dumfries & Galloway Council, South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal have agreed to support NDA and NRS throughout the Chapelcross programme.

At the same time, it has been announced that SOSE will begin work with an Energy Transition Zone on land adjacent to the main Chapelcross site. This is being done in order to create jobs and inward investment, which will be focused on the green energy transition.

It has been stated that the Chapelcross project will, “drive growth in the local economy, attracting high-value jobs, skills and activities in the green energy industry to the area.”

NDA CEO, David Peattie, commented, “Our ultimate aim is to free up our land for reuse, delivering benefit to local communities, the environment and the wider economy – the green energy hub will enable us to deliver this at Chapelcross. Selecting a strategic developer will enable us to build on this further and leverage the benefits of public and private sector collaboration.”

Chief Executive of SOSE, Jane Morrison-Ross, added, “We are committed to working with our Chapelcross partners to ensure this excellent location leads our region to a new economy based on green energy production.”