Scottish Ministers Support Energy Storage Project

Scottish Ministers gave the green light to a pumped storage scheme proposed by SSE, paving the way to the next step of the energy storage project.

“Pump storage hydro electric schemes are an excellent means of energy storage and already play an important role in meeting customer’s peak demand for electricity in the UK.  They also naturally complement the variable output from other renewable sources such as wind,” Jim Smith, Managing Director of SSE Renewables, said in a note released on Friday.

According to SSE, the 600 MW Coire Glas pumped storage hydro electric scheme at Loch Lochy in the Great Glen would be ‘the first new large pumped storage scheme to be developed in Britain for over 30 years.’

After the final investment decision, which is expected after 2015, the construction should take up to five years. The total investment is estimated at £800 million.

“The consent for Coire Glas is therefore very positive, but before SSE can make a decision to invest in the project there are some major hurdles to overcome. SSE is now keen to engage further with both the UK and Scottish governments,” Smith explained.