The Anonymous Widower

Pumped Storage Development In Scotland

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on International Water Power & Dam Construction.

It describes and gives the current status of the two large pumped storage hydroelectric schemes under development in Scotland.

The 1.5 GW/30 GWh scheme at Coire Glass, that is promoted by SSE.

The  Cruachan 2 scheme, that is promoted by Drax, that will upgrade Cruachan power station to 1.04 GW/7.2 GWh.

Note.

1. Construction of both schemes could start in 2024, with completion in 2030.
2. Both, SSE and Drax talk of a substantial uplift in employment during the construction.
3. Both companies say that updated government legislation is needed for schemes like these.

The article is very much a must-read.

Conclusion

Welcome as these schemes are, given the dates talked about, it looks like we will need some other energy storage to bridge the gap until Coire Glas and Cruachan 2 are built.

Will Highview Power step forward with a fleet of their 2.5 GW/30 GWh CRYOBatteries, as was proposed by Rupert Pearce in Britain Will Soon Have A Glut Of Cheap Power, And World-Leading Batteries To Store It.

• The site needed for each CRYOBattery could be smaller than a football pitch.
• In Could A Highview Power CRYOBattery Use A LNG Tank For Liquid Air Storage?, I came to the conclusion that a single LNG tank could hold a lot of liquid air.
• The storing and recovery of the energy uses standard turbomachinery from MAN.
• Highview Power should unveil their first commercial system at Carrington near Manchester this year.

I am sure, that when they get their system working, they could build one in around a year.

September 3, 2022 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Energy Storage | 30 GWh CRYOBattery, Coire Glas Pumped Hydro, Cruachan Power Station, Drax, Highview Power, Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity, Scotland, SSE