ILI Group To Develop 1.5GW Pumped Storage Hydro Project
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Solar Power Portal.
This is the sub-heading.
The pumped hydro facility will be located at Loch Awe, which is also home to Kilchurn Castle.
These paragraphs outline the story.
Clean energy developer ILI Group has begun the initial planning phase for a new pumped storage hydro project in Scotland.
The Balliemeanoch project at Loch Awe, Dalmally in Argyll and Bute will be able to supply 1.5GW of power for up to 30 hours. It is the third and largest of ILI’s pumped storage hydro projects, with the other two being Red John at Loch Ness and Corrievarkie at Loch Ericht.
The Balliemeanoch project will create a new ‘head pond’ in the hills above Loch Awe capable of holding 58 million cubic meters of water when full.
Note.
- At 1.5 GW/45 GWh, it is a large scheme and probably the largest in the UK.
- This is the third massive pumped storage hydro scheme for the Highlands of Scotland after SSE’s 1.5 GW/30 GWh Coire Glas and 152 MW/25 GWh Loch Sloy schemes.
- I describe the scheme in more detail in ILI Group To Develop 1.5GW Pumped Storage Hydro Project.
The article also has this paragraph.
It follows a KPMG report finding that a cap and floor mechanism would be the most beneficial solution for supporting long duration energy storage, reducing risks for investors while at the same time encouraging operators of new storage facilities to respond to system needs, helping National Grid ESO to maintain security of supply.
A decision on funding would be helpful to all the energy storage industry.
The Anonymous Widower 
That’s quite an old post. Since then, the gov has published its response to its call for evidence https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1096002/large-scale-long-duration-electricity-storage-govt-response.pdf which states they’ll “develop policy” by 2024, and “set out further details in due course”.
Pumped storage is far better in terms of output energy (20-30 hours) than conventional batteries. But not as good as the 100 hours that Form Energy is claiming for its iron-air battery. And the latter will be way cheaper and easier to install. The US DOE just announced $325m for LDES, aiming to reduce the cost by 90% by 2030. This includes pumped hydro in Alaska, and iron-air at 2 retiring coal plants, along with work on 2nd-use car batteries.
I’d say, if Form Energy can prove their claims of 100-hour output at 1/7 the cost of Li-ion, they’ll have a game changer.
Comment by Peter Robins | September 29, 2023 |