Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has submitted a planning application for a 2GW pumped storage hydro project near Loch Ness, under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
The proposed project is the largest of several planned for Loch Ness (with 34GWh of storage out of a total of 46GWh). If approved, GEE says the project will deliver over £20 million annually over its 125-year life cycle to Highland communities through what would become Scotland’s largest-ever community benefit fund.
The company says site’s unique topography and 500m gross hydraulic head allow for a more efficient design that generates more power and stores more energy than all other Loch Ness projects combined.
The project team launched early engagement immediately after submitting its request for a Scoping Opinion, in April 2024. GEE has since completed four rounds of consultation with communities around the full Loch Ness area, well before statutory pre-application requirements began.
AECOM Chief Executive for Europe and India, Richard Whitehead said: “As the UK transitions to cleaner energy, pumped storage hydro will play an increasingly important role in its future energy mix, providing reliable and efficient storage solutions to balance the grid. The scale of Glen Earrach has the potential to meaningfully contribute to Scotland’s net zero ambitions, and those of the UK as a whole, while also delivering benefits to both the environment and local communities.”