Largest pumped hydro plant rubber-stamped for Scotland

The Earba Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) project has been given planning consent by the Scottish government, and now ‘the real work begins’, says Gilkes Energy, the company that will bring the project to life.

It will work with an upper reservoir, Loch Leamhain, releasing water down a hill and through turbines into the lower reservoir, Lock Earba, in times of national demand.

The turbines will generate the electricity when needed, and in times of little demand, pumps powered by a wind turbine will send water back to the upper reservoir, where it will be stored until needed.

A 3km tunnel will connect the two bodies of water, and dams will be built around the edges of Lock Leamhain so that it can store more water – and thus, more energy.

As well as the natural geographical benefits, the National Grid transmission network is also near the site, with existing road access, says Gilkes Energy.

Construction has been estimated at five years.

Power capacity has been estimated at 1.8GW and stored energy up to 40,000MWh.

According to the British Hydropower Association, there are four PSH projects currently operational in the UK, two in Scotland, two in Wales:

Wales

Dinorwig – 1.7GW (10.4GWh)
Ffestiniog – 360MW (7.6GWh)

Scotland

Cruachan – 440MW (7.6GWh)
Foyers – 300MW (6.4GWh)