Applications & Installations

Largest ever UK pumped hydro scheme granted consent

Planning permission granted for 1.8 GW/ 40 GWh pumped hydro project in the Scottish Highlands. Developer Gilkes Energy says the real work begins now and is seeking “substantial capital” for the project.
Matthew Lynas
By
Matthew Lynas
The Lochan na h-Earba loch | Image: Nigel Brown, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

From ESS News

Gilkes Energy has secured planning consent for a 1.8 GW/40 GWh pumped hydro energy storage project, the largest of its kind to date in the United Kingdom.

The Earba Pumped Storage Hydro project is located at Loch Earba in the Scottish Highlands, around 200 km north of Glasgow on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.

The proposed development would operate by transferring water between Loch Earba and an upper reservoir, Loch Leamhain. When the project’s upper reservoir is full, it would have enough storage capacity to generate 22 hours of electricity at its full 1.8 GW power rating, according to planning documents for the project.

To continue reading, please visit our ESS News website.

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].

More about
Written by

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].

Comments

Jack Jennings
Apr 04, 2025

We need more of this, reliable energy storage rather than just green energy production. Potential energy storage and sand batteries are far more efficient than storing energy in hydrogen with less to go wrong.

Reply