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Drax approved for new £500m Cruachan 2 pumped storage hydro project

25/07/23 | Reaction
Cruachan pumped storage hydro

Drax Group today (July 25) announced it has secured development consent from The Scottish Government for its plans to build a new £500m underground pumped storage hydro plant at its existing Cruachan facility in Argyll.

The announcement was made during a visit by Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf to Drax’s Cruachan power station on the shores of Loch Awe.

Morag Watson, Director of Policy at Scottish Renewables, said:

“Today’s announcement from Drax and The Scottish Government is not only exciting news for Cruachan power station and the wider renewable energy industry, it’s a really positive step forward for the transition to net-zero in Scotland.

“Long-duration electricity storage, such as pumped storage hydro, will be essential for ensuring energy security and keeping energy bills low for consumers as we decarbonise our energy system. And the extension to the plant at Cruachan is one vital step towards maximising the benefits available from this technology.

“More pumped storage hydro means we can store cheap renewable electricity for when it is needed most, but much more needs to be done to support investment in the technology.

“We know that six projects currently under development in Scotland will more than double the UK’s pumped storage hydro capacity to 7.7GW, create almost 15,000 jobs and generate up to £5.8 billion for the UK economy by 2035.

“Therefore, we urgently need the UK Government to clarify its support for pumped storage hydro projects, deliver the investment framework needed to get these shovel-ready projects into construction and unlock the huge value these projects promise to deliver.”

Ends

Notes

  • Read the announcement from Drax here.
  • Find out more about the Cruachan 2 project here.
  • A recent report which Scottish Renewables commissioned from BiGGAR Economics found that six projects currently under development in Scotland will more than double the UK’s pumped storage hydro capacity to 7.7GW, create almost 15,000 jobs and generate up to £5.8 billion for the UK economy by 2035.
  • Scottish Renewables and the British Hydropower Association recently wrote a joint letter to the Prime Minister calling on the UK Government to urgently support the deployment of long-duration electricity storage, including pumped storage hydro (PSH).
  • Pumped storage hydro is similar to a giant battery as it can store energy and then release it when needed. Each facility uses two water reservoirs at different elevations and power is generated when water moves down from one to the other passing through a turbine. When demand for electricity is low, water is pumped back up to the upper reservoir where it is stored for future use.
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