Gilkes Energy is delighted to announce its second large pumped storage hydro ‘PSH’ development project.
The Fearna PSH project is a proposed pumped storage hydro (‘PSH’) scheme with an installed capacity of up to 1,800MW and stored energy of up to 37,000 MWh making it, alongside our Earba project one of the two largest such developments in the UK in terms of both installed capacity and energy stored.
Commenting on the project, Fraser Allison, Project Director of the Fearna project said:
“We are delighted to launch the Fearna Pumped Storage Hydro ‘PSH’ project. At up to 1,800MW installed capacity and 37,000MWh stored energy, this will be one of the largest PSH projects both in the UK and globally.
Long duration energy storage allows energy produced during times of excess generation (mainly wind) to be stored and released later when demand outstrips supply. These shortfalls are currently met by fossil fuel generation, which we need to reduce and ultimately avoid in the coming years. PSH technology is in effect a very large water battery which will last for over 100 years with no reduction in performance and is the only storage technology currently available at the scale required to achieve Net-Zero.
The Fearna site is well-suited to a PSH project, with favourable topography and geology. With high elevation between the upper and lower lochs and short tunnels required, it should be a very competitive project in the UK market. It also re-uses Loch Quoich as its lower reservoir, which was dammed in the 1950's for hydropower generation. We feel that the Fearna project represents the next chapter in Scotland’s hydro journey, by re-using the engineering excellence of the past to tackle the challenges of the future and leave a lasting renewable legacy for future generations.
By developing and investing in PSH capacity, we are helping more renewables to be added to the UK System, displacing expensive and carbon-emitting gas generation and ultimately speeding up the transition to a clean, carbon-free economy.
We look forward to bringing this ambitious project to fruition”.
See The Project for more information or feel free to Contact Us with any questions.