SSE Renewables and Gilkes energy have submitted a planning consent application to Scottish Ministers for a proposed Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) project.
The Fearna PSH project is proposed as a 50:50 joint venture project between SSE and Gilkes Energy, with Gilkes Energy leading the development under a developer services agreement with SSE Renewables. The scheme will have an installed capacity of 1.8GW and a stored capacity of up to 36GWh, providing 20 hours of storage. If approved, the project would be the largest pumped hydro scheme in the UK.
The proposed site is located around 25km from Invergarry in the Scottish Highlands and adjoins SSE Renewables’ existing Loch Quoich reservoir, which forms part of the Great Glen hydro scheme. The development will include the construction of tunnels and a new power station that will connect the existing Loch Quoich reservoir to an upper reservoir at Loch Fearna.
Plans for this project were first announced in July 2024, as reported by our sister publication Current±. At that time, it was revealed that a grid connection offer totalling 1.795GW had already been secured for the proposed development. It has not yet been announced when a decision on planning permission is expected to be made by Scottish ministers, or when construction could begin and conclude if permission is granted.
Fraser Allison, project director of the Fearna PSH project, said: “We are pleased to have submitted a Section 365 planning consent application to Scottish Ministers for Fearna. This exciting long duration electricity storage project could be the largest in the UK for both installed capacity and stored energy.
“We are looking forward to continued engagement with stakeholders, supply chain partners and the local community as the planning process moves forward.”
PSH on the rise
SSE already operates the largest fleet of hydroelectric power and pumped storage hydro assets in Scotland, and other companies are also seeking to develop in the Highlands.
A recent study into the potential economic impact of Statkraft’s Loch na Cathrach pumped storage hydro scheme found that it could provide hundreds of local jobs for years to come. The University of The Highlands and Islands found that the 450MW scheme could support as many as 500 jobs at peak, a similar number to the number of jobs created by SSE Renewables’ Fearna scheme.
