The Anonymous Widower

Scotland’s 25 GWh Energy Storage Arriving By Stealth

In SSE Unveils Redevelopment Plans For Sloy Hydro-Electric Power Station, I introduced SSE Renewable’s plan to convert the UK’s largest hydro-electric power station into a pumped storage hydroelectric station, that can store 25 GWh of electricity and generate 152.5 MW of electricity.

After a public consultation in July, which unfortunately, I was unable to get to, SSE have now published a comprehensive document, which details their plans.

These are some points from the document.

• There will be no increase in the generating capacity of 152.5 MW, which is about half the size of a gas-fired power station.
• SSE designed a similar scheme for Sloy in 2009.
• Pumped storage systems need a lot of water. The Loch Sloy scheme has Loch Lomond.
• The development of pumped storage at Sloy would only require construction work to be carried out in the grounds of the existing power station.
• No permanent new works would be required at Sloy Dam or outside of the existing station boundary.
• A new above ground structure would be required which would contain a main hall with vehicular access, laydown areas, an overhead travelling crane, electrical switchgear and control systems.
• A new underground pump hall would be required to house two pumps. This would link to the intake structure and would be approximately 20m below the existing ground level.
• The existing tailrace to Loch Lomond, will be used to bring water to the pumps.
• Construction could start in 2025, with completion in 2027.

This redevelopment is a much less complex construction project, than building the original power station in the 1950s.

It also looks like the construction will not cause much disruption in the local area.

Hence my view, that this storage is arriving by stealth and won’t be noticed by those passing the power station.

After reading this SSE document, I wonder how many similar 1950s hydroelectric power stations have been upgraded to pumped storage stations in the last few years.

Also, if their Sloy scheme is successful, will SSE be looking for other hydroelectric power stations to convert to pumped storage?

This article on renews.biz is entitled Vattenfall Plans To Build 730MW Of Swedish Hydro Power, where this is a paragraph.

Vattenfall is also conducting a pilot study to investigate reinstating the Juktan power station on the Storjuktan lake adjacent to the Umeälven river in Västerbotten, to a pumped storage plant with a capacity of up to 380MW.

Note.

1. Juktan power station was built as a pumped storage station and converted to a standard one.
2. It has a web page.
3. As the paragraph says it could be converted back!

So other companies and countries are thinking the same way!

Strathclyde University’s Prediction

This page on the Strathclyde University web site, gives these figures in GWh for the possible amounts of pumped storage that can be added to existing schemes.

• Errochty – 16
• Glasgarnock – 23
• Luichart – 38
• Clunie – 40
• Fannich – 70
• Rannoch – 41
• Fasnakyle – 78
• Tummel – 38
• Ben Lawers – 12
• Nant – 48
• Invermoriston – 22
• Invergarry – 41
• Quoich – 27
• Sloy – 20

That is a total of 514 GWh.

These figures must give SSE food for thought.

These new schemes are also being planned.

• Balliemeanoch – 1.5GW/45 GWh
• Coire Glas – 1.5 GW/30 GWh
• Corrievarkie – 600 MW/14.5 GWh
• Fearna – 1.8 GW/37 GWh
• Loch Earba – 900 MW/33 GWh
• Loch Kemp – 300 MW/9 GWh
• Loch Na Cathrach/Red John – 450 MW/2.8 GWh

These could bring the potential pumped storage in Scotland to 685.3 GWh.

September 29, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Energy Storage | Fearna Pumped Hydro, Hydroelectricity, Loch Fearna, Loch Na Cathrach/Red John Pumped Hydro, Loch Quoich, Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme, Loch Sloy Pumped Hydro, Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity, SSE Renewables, Vattenfall