Hunterston B is scheduled to close in 2011

A report by Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee demands an audit of energy resources and suggests a renewed role for nuclear power and coal.

Two nuclear power plants generate much of Scotland's energy but they are reaching the end of their lives.

MPs have concluded that renewable energy and imports cannot plug the gap.

Hunterston B nuclear power station in Ayrshire is set to close in 2011 and Torness, in East Lothian, will last until 2023.

Vital decisions

Extending production at the plants could be a stop-gap measure.

However, the Labour-dominated committee warned that if vital decisions were not taken now there was a real possibility of the lights going out across the country.

The report said it was not a case of having to choose between renewable and conventional forms of energy.

"The energy audit recommended by the committee must therefore be on the basis that all current forms of energy - whether renewable, fossil fuel or nuclear - will be necessary," it said.

Nuclear power does have a proven track record... but people do have fears about nuclear power Committee report Nuclear plant 'not an option'

MPs said that coal must have a role to play in meeting energy needs in the future.

However, the committee urged caution over assumptions on how much power could be provided by "emerging" sectors like wave and tidal power.

The report said the possible "rehabilitation" of nuclear power would be the most controversial issue.

"Nuclear power does have a proven track record, and a new-build power station could take less than five years to complete, but people do have fears about nuclear power," said the report.

"The solution could be a new generation type of nuclear power station."

However, the committee remained concerned that the government had made no long-term decision about how to manage the nuclear waste which has already been created.

Renewable energy

BBC Scotland political correspondents said that a move to a new nuclear power station and buttressing the role of coal would privately be welcomed by UK ministers.

However, the Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party and the Scottish Greens quickly stated their opposition to any new nuclear plant.

The committee's report also calls on the Scottish Executive to clarify targets which aim to have 40% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020.

It challenges ministers to say whether this refers to the electricity generated or the amount consumed.