Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has achieved an important milestone in the development of a potential 2GW pump storage hydro (PSH) project on the legendary Loch Ness van Scotland, who has submitted a planning request for the project.
If approved, the project will be one of the largest and most efficient energy storage schemes of the UK, according to GEE, and every year it will deliver more than £ 20 million of his 125-year life cycle to local communities through what the largest community fund in Scotland would ever be. The developer also states that the project would be able to store the equivalent energy capacity of around 800 onshore wind turbines that are currently active in the operational area of the Highland Council.
Gee notes that the unique topography of the site and the planned use of a 500 m gross hydraulic head make a more efficient design and more energy storage capacity possible than all other planned Loch Ness storage projects combined. According to the developer, the project could make a reduction of 10% in the carbon emissions of the local network and £ 2.9 billion in savings for grid operators possible during the first 20 years of operation.
To ensure that the development is in the best interest of the local community, Gee has commissioned the independent poll for residents of Highland from Opinium. While 56% of Highlanders were demonstrated to support PSH projects on Loch Ness, with only 16% in return, the local community noticed on various important priorities that they believe that developers in the area should consider.
The top priorities for Highlanders provide reliable and affordable energy, whereby 54% of the respondents call this as an important priority, where you provide money and economic benefits, which regards 53% a priority, and community benefits for the local area, half of which responded, said a priority for them.
If approved, the project is expected to produce its first electricity in 2030. Glen Earrach Energy Director, Roderick MacLeod, said the project is ready to become one of the largest and most advanced energy storage initiatives in the UK, and added that “the Highlands deserve the best project and we stay on our way to deliver it”. He added that Gee is committed to continuously listening to the views of the community and explains: “Now we are looking forward to working with the Scottish government, the Highland Council and all the important stakeholders to deliver this essential project.”
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