Joint venture announced for Scottish pumped storage hydropower project

• 2 days ago (2024-07-25)
• David Flin

Europe 1075 Hydropower 117

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SSE has announced plans to progress a new pumped storage hydropower scheme at Loch Fearna in Scotland’s Great Glen, in a 50-50 joint venture with a consortium led by Gilkes Energy .

The proposed co-development is located at the western end of Glengarry around 25km west of Invergarry and adjoins SSE Renewables' existing Loch Quoich reservoir in the Great Glen hydro scheme. The proposed scheme aims to utilise the natural landscape of Loch Fearna to create a pumped storage facility. The project will involve the development of tunnels and a new power station connecting SSE Renewables’ existing reservoir at Loch Quoich with an upper reservoir at Loch Fearna,

The proposed development will be 1.8 GW in capacity and capable of producing around 37 GWh of stored energy. The project has already secured a grid connection offer totalling 1795 MW.

Under the terms of the joint venture, Gilkes Energy will lead the project’s development under a development services agreement with SSE Renewables.

The project could reach commercial operation by the mid-2030s.