The Anonymous Widower

Coire Glas Pumped Storage Hydro Could Support 3,000 UK Jobs And £2bn Of Spending

The title of this this post, is the same as that of this news item from SSE.

These first four paragraphs introduce and summarise the news item.

A new independent economic impact study has found that SSE’s proposed Coire Glas Pumped Storage Hydro project in the Scottish Highlands could support almost 3,000 UK construction jobs at peak, deliver a near £2 billion spending boost with UK businesses, and generate £1.5 billion in UK economic value for the UK, if approved for delivery.

The research, undertaken by BiGGAR Economics, highlights the scale of the jobs and economic opportunity presented by the 1.44GW project, one of Britain’s most advanced pumped storage hydro projects.

BiGGAR Economics estimates Coire Glas would require private capital investment of around £3 billion, equivalent to around two Queensferry Crossings.

Realising the projected benefits for UK businesses, workers and communities now depends on Coire Glas securing an investible outcome through Ofgem’s Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) framework.

Note.

  1. Later the news item refines the construction benefit as 2880 UK construction jobs at peak, deliver a near £1.94 billion spending boost with UK businesses.
  2. Coire Glas will have an energy storage of at least 45 GWh.
  3. BiGGAR Economics say that the £3 billion needed to build Coire Glas should be possible to raise privately.
  4. The last paragraph almost reads like a plea to the government and Ofgem to get a move on, so that the UK can start to feel the benefits of this project.
  5. There is also no mention on how much Coire Glas will save in avoiding the need to switch off wind farms, when there is too much electricity.
  6. The avioiding of switching off wind farm and a near £1.94 billion spending boost with UK businesses, must surely add a small percentage to UK economic growth, but it doesn’t seem to be included.

I have a few thoughts.

Could Three Billion Pounds Be Raised Privately To Build Coire Glas Pumped Storage Hydro?

I asked Google AI the question in the title of this section and received this answer.

Raising the £3 billion privately to build the Coire Glas Pumped Storage Hydro project is not happening purely through unbacked private risk; it depends on securing a government-backed revenue guarantee.

Private Capital Requirement: An economic study by BiGGAR Economics for developer SSE Renewables estimates the 1.44GW project will require roughly £3 billion in private capital investment.

The Catch (Ofgem’s LDES Framework): Private investors will not commit this scale of capital on merchant power prices alone due to high upfront costs and long payback periods. Unlocking the private funds requires an investable outcome through Ofgem’s Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) cap and floor mechanism.

How the Cap and Floor Works: This government-backed framework guarantees a minimum revenue “floor” (underwritten by energy consumers) to de-risk the investment, while capping extreme upside profits.

Current Status: In June 2026, Ofgem placed Coire Glas on its “Minded-to-Decision” list for potential support, though key commercial and regulatory details are still being negotiated before a final investment decision can be made.

Google AI doesn’t seem very hopeful.

What Is The Cost Of The East Anglia THREE Wind Farm?

I am asking this question, as East Anglia THREE is an energy project of a few millions, that is nearing completion.

I asked Google AI and received this answer.

The total estimated cost of the East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm is €5.2 billion (approximately £4 billion to £4.4 billion, or around $4.8 billion).

Key Financial & Project Details:

Total Cost: €5.2 billion

Project Financing: Secured around £3.5 billion to £3.6 billion (€4.1 billion) in green project financing backed by a group of international banks and export credit agencies (such as Denmark’s EIFO).

Ownership: Co-owned 50/50 by Masdar and Iberdrola (through ScottishPower Renewables).

Capacity & Scale: 1,400 MW (1.4 GW) capacity featuring 95 turbines, designed to power roughly 1.3 million homes.

Timeline: Scheduled for full operation in late 2026.

Note.

  1. East Anglia THREE and Coire Glas are both projects of a few billions.
  2. Coire Glas is scheduled to be completed in 2033 according to Google AI.
  3. East Anglia THREE appears to have been successfully financed.
  4. Coire Glas is the first pumped storage hydro to be financed in the UK for some years.
  5. Have similar systems been financed in other countries?

What this financing needs is an innovative bank manager or a Sheikh with loadsamoney.

I used to know one of the former and he took a risk with us, when we were developing Artemis.

Sadly, he’s now helping God with his finances.

Is More Energy Storage Needed Urgently In The Highlands?

I asked Google AI the question in the title of this section and received this answer.

Yes, more energy storage is urgently needed at a national level to balance intermittent renewable generation like wind, though the pace, scale, and local impact of these developments are heavily contested by Highland communities.

The Need for Energy Storage

Grid Balancing: The UK needs massive increases in long-duration energy storage (LDES)—such as pumped storage hydro (PSH) and battery energy storage systems (BESS)—to store excess renewable power and release it during high demand.

National Targets: Expanding storage capacity is viewed as essential for meeting net-zero goals, cutting reliance on gas, and avoiding expensive grid upgrades. Major projects like SSE’s Coire Glas (1.44GW) and Glen Earrach have moved forward through planning and regulatory stages.

Local Concerns and Opposition

“Under Siege” Sentiment: More than 50 Highland community councils have demanded a pause on major energy infrastructure projects, arguing that the region is absorbing a disproportionate share of wind farms, transmission lines, and storage sites without a coherent overall strategy.

Fuel Poverty vs. Local Export: While the Highlands generate far more electricity than they consume, local residents face some of the highest fuel poverty rates and electricity costs in the UK.

Economic and Visual Impact: Local MPs and councils warn that large-scale construction projects often bring temporary workers housed in modular camps rather than permanent local jobs or legacy housing, while threatening the landscape central to the region’s tourism economy. Critics also push for stronger legally mandated community benefit packages rather than voluntary guidelines.

It seems to me, that there is a need for some intelligent management of the construction of energy projects in the Highlands.

 

 

 

 

November 3, 2026 Posted by | Energy, Energy Storage, Finance & Investment, UK Economic Growth | , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What Is The Potential Capacity Of Wind Farms In The Atlantic To The West Of Ireland?

In Is This Healey’s Magic Money Tree?, I published this map of the EEZ of the UK and those of neighbouring coastal states.

 

Note.

  1. The European part of the UK EEZ is shown in bright blue.
  2. Google AI gives its size as 766,309 square kilometres.
  3. The Irish EEZ is labelled IE, and surrounds the island of Ireland.
  4. Google AI gives its size as 880,000 square kilometres.
  5. Much of the European part of the UK and Irish EEZs stretch a full 200 nautical miles from the coast.
  6. The German EEZ is indicated by DE.
  7. Google AI gives its size as 32,982 square kilometres.
  8. The European part of the UK EEZ is 23 times the size of the whole of the German EEZ, which includes a small part in the Baltic Sea
  9. The Irish EEZ is 27 times the size of the whole of the German EEZ.

Just like the UK, the Irish seemed to have been very lucky, when the EEZs were drawn.

What Is Google AI’s Estimate Of The Potential Capacity In The Atlantic To The West Of Ireland?

I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this answer.

The potential capacity of floating offshore wind (FLOW) farms in the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Ireland ranges from at least 30 gigawatts (GW) under official government long-term goals to roughly 197 GW to 600 GW in technical and scientific assessments.

Key Capacity Estimates for the Atlantic / West Coast:

Official Long-Term Policy Target: The Irish government’s Programme for Government aims to tap into at least 30 GW of offshore floating wind power off the Atlantic coast by 2050.

Scientific & Technical Potential (Regional): Studies examining floating offshore wind deployment in designated areas of Irish waters (spanning over 58,000 km²) estimate a total capacity of 197 GW, with about 80% concentrated in water depths of 60 to 200 meters.

Broader Atlantic / Exclusive Economic Zone Ceiling: Theoretical and high-ambition studies suggest the vast Atlantic marine area possesses an upper technical bound reaching up to 600 GW (with long-term high-ambition scenarios exploring around 150 GW by 2075).

Why the West Coast Has High Potential

Stronger Winds: Wind speeds of 9 to 11 meters per second at typical hub heights yield high capacity factors of 50% to 60%, significantly outperforming typical North Sea sites (35% to 45%).

Floating Technology (FLOW): Because waters off the Atlantic west coast are deep, development relies on floating wind platforms rather than fixed-bottom turbines.

Detailed analysis and context on these projections can be explored via the The Irish Atlantic Energy Vision Report and technical evaluations hosted by IEEE Xplore.

These really are capacities with extreme potentials.

 

 

 

 

 

November 3, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Energy | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are There Any Personal Reasons, Why Meloni Started Testing All Children For Coeliac Disease And Type One Diabetes?

I asked Google AI the question in the title of this post and received this reply.

While Italy’s historic mass screening program was passed during Giorgia Meloni’s administration, there are no documented personal health reasons involving Meloni herself that triggered the initiative. Instead, the narrative surrounding the policy focuses on medical research, high hidden prevalence rates, and a different prominent politician.

The primary drivers behind the policy include:

The Actual Promoter: The landmark Law 130/2023 was championed and introduced by Giorgio Mulè, the Vice-President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. While Meloni’s broader right-wing coalition government supported and enacted the legislation, Mulè was the core political force and promoter driving it through parliament.

Alarming Research Data: The law was heavily motivated by medical studies—specifically a trial led by Professor Elena Lionetti. It revealed that coeliac disease prevalence had doubled in Italy over 25 years, and an estimated 60% of cases in children were completely undiagnosed because they were asymptomatic or presented classic symptoms poorly.

Preventative Healthcare Goals: The government backed the program to reduce critical health complications. Early screening for type 1 diabetes is proven to cut severe cases of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) by 50%. Catching coeliac disease early protects children from long-term consequences like growth delays, iron deficiency, and osteoporosis.

Ultimately, the testing mandate stems from Italy’s status as a world leader in coeliac awareness and a calculated public health shift toward secondary disease prevention.

The law doesn’t seem to have been very controversial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 3, 2026 Posted by | Artificial Intelligence, Health | , , , , | Leave a comment

London Bridge To Moorfields Eye Hospital On A 141 Bus

I was sitting in the single seat up front on a 141 bus, so I took these pictures.

Note.

  1. I took the 141 bus from the bus station at London Bridge station.
  2. There is a long escalator from the ticket barriers at the station to just in front of the bus station.
  3. It is not a difficult walk and you pass an M & S Simply Food.
  4. The 43 bus can also be used on the route.
  5. The buses are generally only a few minutes and they both terminate at the same stop in London Bridge bus station.
  6. Moorgate station could be convenient for changing to the Elizabeth Line.
  7. Just before Moorfields Eye Hospital, you pass Old Street station, with its specularly advertising hoarding.

It is possible to take the Northn Line between London Bridge and Old Street stations, but for those who are not good walkers, the bus may be better.

November 1, 2026 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment