Scottish energy storage developer ILI Group has today (July 11) revealed that it has submitted a Section 36 planning application to the Scottish Government for a 1.5GW pumped hydro storage (PHES) project.
The project, called Balliemeanoch, aims to provide a flexible and renewable energy source and strengthen the stability of the electricity grid, especially as Britain increases the amount of variable energy entering the system. It will be located in Argyll and Bute and will be able to supply 45 GWh of power, making it one of the largest PHES projects in Europe.
With a planned connection date of 2031, Balliemeanoch PSH is well positioned to contribute to the UK’s long-term energy strategy.
Plans for the project first appeared in February 2022 Solar energy portal after previously reporting it could provide 1.5GW of power for up to 30 hours.
The Balliemeanoch project will create a new ‘main pond’ in the hills above Loch Awe. When full, it can hold 58 million cubic meters of water.
ILI Group has engaged AECOM, an infrastructure consultancy, as technical consultants for the Balliemeanoch PHES project. AECOM’s expertise in large-scale infrastructure projects has been “instrumental in developing the detailed plans for this ambitious plan,” ILI said.
Mark Wilson, CEO of ILI Group, said: “The submission of the planning application for Balliemeanoch marks another crucial step in our commitment to increasing Britain’s renewable energy capabilities.
“This follows our recent sale to Statkraft for the Loch na Cathrach project (formerly known as Red John), further confirming the crucial role of pumped storage in our energy future. Long-term energy storage projects such as Balliemeanoch and Loch na Cathrach are essential to maintaining grid stability as we increase our reliance on renewable energy sources.”
Scotland is seeing an increase in PHES projects
ILI Group’s project isn’t the only recent development in the PHES space in recent weeks. On Tuesday (July 9) Solar energy portal reported that Drax had appointed global technology and engineering firm Voith Hydro to progress its plans for its proposed 600MW underground project called Hollow Mountain.
The project will be built on Argyll’s highest mountain, Ben Cruachan, next to the company’s 440MW PHES Cruachan station. The two will share the existing upper reservoir, as its 2.4 billion liters of water has sufficient capacity for both.
