The project, backed by \u00a315.3m combined funding from the UK and Scottish Governments, looks to transform the Chapelcross nuclear site into a leading beacon of renewable energy.<\/p>\n
Plans for the site, outlined in the ‘Chapelcross Masterplan’<\/a>, include developing hydrogen production storage, advanced manufacturing, and energy and enterprise campuses to accelerate the UK’s net zero ambitions<\/a>.<\/p>\n Repurposing the former nuclear plant will generate growth in the local economy and create lucrative green energy job opportunities for the region.<\/p>\n Located near Annan, Chapelcross nuclear power station, Scotland’s pioneer in atomic energy, emerged from the Cold War era.<\/p>\n Built as a sister plant to Calder Hall in England, its primary function was the production of plutonium for the UK’s nuclear weapons programme.<\/p>\n The plant, which began operating in 1959, also generated electricity, supplying the National Grid. Its four reactors and iconic cooling towers became emblematic of Britain’s embrace of nuclear power.<\/a><\/p>\n However, Chapelcross was more than just a power station. It was a strategic asset, a key component in the nation’s nuclear deterrent.<\/p>\n While the plant made significant contributions to the UK’s energy supply, the Chapelcross nuclear site ceased operation in 2004, with its four cooling towers demolished in 2007.<\/p>\n A landmark of UK energy innovation in the 20th<\/sup> century, Chapelcross now has the opportunity to become a key player in the nation’s energy transition.<\/p>\nChapelcross: A rich history in clean energy<\/h3>\n