SSE pledges £100m investment boost to pumped hydro scheme in Scotland

The project, planned for the shores of Loch Lochy, would be capable of delivering 30GWh of long-duration energy storage, making it the UK’s largest pumped hydro project in more than four decades once completed. It would more than double Britain’s long-duration energy storage capacity.

SSE is aiming for the project to come online in 2031, subject to a final investment decision being reached in 2024.

SSE has this week pledged a £100m investment boost for the project, which is expected to require a total of £1.5bn of capital investment for construction. But it has warned that reaching the final investment decision will depend on the UK Government setting out how it intends to financially support the long-duration energy storage sector.

The Energy Security Strategy, published last April, committed the Government to providing these plans – but they have not been forthcoming, amid two consecutive changes in Prime Minister.

There have been some reports that Rishi Sunak may publish an updated Energy Security Strategy, accounting for his Government’s increased ambitions on energy efficiency and providing more details for sectors such as pumped hydro. In any case, it is legally required to update its ‘unlawful’ Net-Zero Strategy by the end of March.

The Scottish Government granted permission for Coire Glas in 2020 and is also considering a planning application from Drax for a major expansion of capacity at its Cruachan Power Station.

Learn more: Edie