Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has today (May 17) unveiled plans to develop Britain’s “most efficient pumped storage hydropower project (PSH)”, capable of delivering 30 GWh of clean energy, at Loch Ness.
The 2GW project, which will be located on Balmacaan Estate, Scotland, will require an investment of more than £2 billion and will generate at least 600 on-site construction jobs in Scotland over the course of six years, as well as many more jobs in the local supply chain. .
The announcement comes as GEE has begun working with local communities, businesses and government to seek views on how best to integrate the project into the environment and community.
GEE is working with a consortium of advisors and experts – including AECOM, Alpiq, Frontier Economics and LCP-Delta – to advance the project. She recently submitted a scoping request to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
The project will take advantage of the distinctive geography of Loch Ness. With a significant height difference of over 480 meters between the upper and lower reservoirs it will maximize energy generation whilst minimizing the impact on Loch Ness water levels.
This design means the project will use water “more efficiently than any existing or proposed pumped storage project in Britain,” the company said.
Commenting on the plan, GEE director Roderick MacLeod said: “Scotland is a leader in wind energy, but the wind doesn’t always blow when we need the energy most. That is the moment when PSH comes into the picture. It’s like a giant water battery, storing excess wind energy when it’s plentiful and releasing it when the wind dies down.
“International experts have identified Glen Earrach Energy’s pumped storage hydro project as the most efficient in Britain, and possibly even in Europe. It will be necessary to help Britain reach net zero.”
MacLeod also highlighted the need for government support for long-term energy storage projects, similar to the Loch Ness PSH discussed here, and welcomed the proposed income floor mechanism.
“Globally, pumped storage is dependent on government support. The income floor proposed by the UK government is a step in the right direction, which Glen Earrach Energy supports. We believe that government should prioritize projects that are proven to be the most efficient, cost-effective and sustainable, rather than projects that require planning. This way they should be able to finance themselves and in theory never have to rely on government support.”
This article first appeared in Solar Power Portal’s sister publication Current±.
