Glen Earrach Energy Limited (GEE) has announced plans to develop a pumped storage hydro project at Balmacaan Estate, Scotland with storage capacity of 30GWh.
The project will represent an investment of more than £2 billion and create at least 600 on site construction jobs in Scotland over a 6-year period, plus many thousands more locally in the supply chain.
The announcement comes as GEE, working with advisors including Aecom, Alpiq, Frontier Economics and LCP-Delta, has begun engaging with local communities, businesses, and government. It recently submitting a scoping request to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
GEE says the project efficiency is improved by the topography, scale and location of the site. It leverages the unique geography of Loch Ness. With a substantial height difference exceeding 480m between the upper and lower reservoirs, it will maximise power generation while minimising its impact on Loch Ness water levels.
GEE Director, Roderick MacLeod, said: “International experts have identified Glen Earrach Energy’s pumped storage hydro project as the most efficient in the UK, possibly even Europe. It will be needed to help Britain get to net zero”.
He added, “Globally, pumped storage has relied on government support. The UK government’s proposed income floor is a step in the right direction, which Glen Earrach Energy supports. We believe the government should prioritise projects proven to be the most efficient, cost effective and sustainable, rather than those with planning. That way they should be self-financing and in theory never have to draw on government support”.