The British energy companies SSE renewables and Gilkes Energy have announced that their 50:50 joint venture 1.8 GW Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) project in Scotland’s Great Glen (UK) has secured a grid connection offer totalling 1,795MW and is currently undergoing public consultation. The Fearna PSH project is being led by Gilkes Energy under a development services agreement with SSE Renewables. The proposed co-development includes the construction of tunnels and a new power station connecting SSE Renewables’ existing reservoir at Loch Quoich with an upper reservoir at Loch Fearna. The project is expected to produce about 37 GWh of stored energy capacity once it reaches commercial operations in the mid-2030s, subject to reaching a final investment decision. The outcome from the consultation is expected by the end of 2024, with the first application window for projects potentially opening in 2025.
The UK has an electricity capacity of 107 GW (end of 2023), with hydro accounting for 4%.