The Anonymous Widower

Ambitious £3bn Pumped Hydro Project At Loch Ness Moves Forward

The title of this post is the same as that of this article on Sustainable Times.

These are the two introductory paragraphs.

A £3 billion pumped storage hydro (PSH) project near Scotland’s iconic Loch Ness is one step closer to becoming a reality. Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) confirmed on April 25th that it has officially submitted the planning application for its ambitious 2gw scheme.

If greenlit, this project would represent nearly three-quarters of the total PSH capacity planned for Loch Ness, contributing 34 GWh of the region’s 46 GWh storage goal. But it’s not just the storage that stands out. This development would also account for two-thirds of the generating capacity, all while using just half of the water previously considered. To put it into perspective, the project’s capacity would be on par with the combined output of around 800 onshore wind turbines scattered throughout the Highland Council area.

Note.

1. The generating and pumping capacity for this ambitious scheme is given as 2 GW. Only three in China and one in the United States are larger.
2. The storage capacity of 34 GWh will make it the largest in the UK, possibly the second largest in Europe to Ulla-Førre in Norway and one of the ten largest in the world.
3. A projected 10% reduction in the UK grid’s carbon footprint is claimed.
4. The cost of three billion is high, but compare that with the tens of billions quoted for the 3.26 GW Hinckley Point C.

The Glen Earrach scheme is not short on superlatives and the article in Sustainable Times is worth a thorough read.

Fifth Hydro Project Proposed At Loch Ness, is based on a BBC article of the same name.

These were my thoughts in the related post.

The Existing Hydro Schemes On Loch Ness

According to the BBC article, there are two existing hydro schemes on Loch Ness.

• Foyers is described on this web site and is a reasonably modern 305 MW/6.3 GWh pumped storage hydroelectric power station, that was built by SSE Renewables in the last fifty years.
• Glendoe is described on this web site and is a modern 106.5 MW conventional hydroelectric power station, that was built by SSE Renewables in the last twenty years.

Foyers and Glendoe may not be the biggest hydroelectric power stations, but they’re up there in size with most solar and onshore wind farms. Perhaps we should look for sites to develop 100 MW hydroelectric power stations?

The Proposed Hydro Schemes On Loch Ness

According to the BBC article, there are four proposed hydro schemes on Loch Ness.

• Coire Glas is described on this web site and will be a 1.5GW/30 GWh pumped storage hydroelectric power station, that is being developed by SSE Renewables.
• Fearna is described on this web site and will be a 1.8GW/37 GWh pumped storage hydroelectric power station, that is being developed by Gilkes Energy.
• Loch Kemp is described on this web site and will be a 600MW/9 GWh pumped storage hydroelectric power station, that is being developed by Statera.
• Loch Na Cathrach is described on this web site and will be a 450MW/2.8 GWh pumped storage hydroelectric power station, that is being developed by Statktaft.

In addition there is, there is the recently announced Glen Earrach.

• Glen Earrach is described on this web site and will be a 2GW/34 GWh pumped storage hydroelectric power station, that is being developed by Glen Earrach Energy.

Note.

1. The total power of the seven pumped storage hydroelectric power stations is 4.76 GW.
2. The total storage capacity is 89.1 GWh.
3. The storage capacity is enough to run all turbines flat out for nearly nineteen hours.

I estimate that if 2 GW/34 GWh of pumped storage will cost £3 billion, then 4.76 GW/89.1 GWh of pumped storage will cost around £7-8 billion.

April 27, 2025 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Energy Storage | Coire Glas Pumped Hydro, Fearna Pumped Hydro, Gilkes Energy, Glen Earrach Energy, Glen Earrach Pumped Hydro, Hinckley Point C Nuclear Power Station, Loch Kemp Pumped Hydro, Loch Na Cathrach/Red John Pumped Hydro, Loch Ness, Norway, Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity, Ulla-Førre