Ofgem has provisionally approved three pumped storage hydroelectric power station projects in northern Scotland, marking the first major hydropower developments in Great Britain in over 40 years. These projects are part of a broader plan to reduce the country's reliance on energy imports and enhance grid stability.
Projects and Locations
The three projects include Statera Energy's Loch Kemp project, which will draw water from Loch Ness; SSE's Coire Glas project, which will use water from Loch Lochy between Fort William and Inverness; and Gilkes Energy's Earba project, which will utilize Loch Leamhain and Loch Earba to create the UK's largest pumped storage hydro facility. All are expected to be completed by the early 2030s.
Historical Context
These will be the first pumped hydro power projects since the Dinorwig hydropower plant in north Wales began operations in 1984. Dinorwig, known locally as 'electric mountain,' can generate enough electricity to power nearly 2 million households within seconds by using falling water to drive turbines. Pumped storage hydropower, one of the oldest forms of energy storage, has been used in Britain for almost 150 years.
How Pumped Storage Works
When electricity is abundant, pumped hydropower plants use surplus power to pump water from a lower reservoir to an elevated dam. During peak demand, the water is released to flow over turbines, generating electricity back to the grid.
Government and Regulatory Support
Energy minister Michael Shanks stated: 'Forty years after the country's last pumped storage facility, this government is getting Britain building again. The lesson from the conflict in Iran is clear: Britain cannot afford to remain at the mercy of volatile fossil fuel markets and leave families exposed to the next price shock.'
Broader Energy Storage Plans
The three hydropower projects are among 16 long-duration energy storage schemes provisionally approved by Ofgem, capable of storing and releasing electricity for eight hours or more. Most are lithium-ion battery projects, but alternative technologies are also included. TeesCAES plans a compressed air energy storage scheme in Tees, using surplus electricity to compress air to about 70 bar pressure, which is then released to spin turbines. Invinity Energy Systems will deploy a vanadium redox flow battery, which uses liquid electrolytes to generate current through a central 'stack.'
Grid Balancing and Energy Security
The 16 projects, located across England, Scotland, and Wales, aim to balance electricity supply and demand, which fluctuates due to the unpredictability of wind and solar power. Akshay Kaul, Ofgem's director general for infrastructure, said: 'It's fantastic to see such a wide range of technologies coming forward. This takes us a step closer towards the long-duration energy storage we need in a clean power system to maintain secure supply during periods of cold, hot, still or cloudy weather when solar or wind power output may be low.'
