Gilkes Energy has announced that the Planning Application for the Fearna Pumped Storage Hydro (PSH) Project has been officially submitted to the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government. This Section 36 Planning Application encompasses extensive surveys, analysis, engineering design, and consultation, all summarized in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
The application has been informed by engagement with key statutory consultees, including NatureScot and SEPA, as well as feedback gathered from the general public and local communities during a series of face-to-face consultation events.
Commenting on the project, Carl Crompton Managing Director of Gilkes Energy said: “We are delighted to have submitted the Planning Application for the Fearna Pumped Storage Hydro project.
“We are working closely with the UK Government and Ofgem on the development of the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Cap & Floor mechanism, set for delivery in 2025. This framework acknowledges the critical value of PSH while addressing the challenges of financing these capital-intensive and long-lead-time projects. The Cap & Floor model has already proven successful in attracting private investment for interconnector projects, and we expect it will similarly unlock financing for PSH projects like Fearna in 2025.
We look forward to bringing this ambitious and transformative project to fruition”.
The Fearna Pumped Storage Hydro project is designed with an installed capacity of 1,800MW and 36,000MWh of stored energy. This makes it one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK, both in terms of capacity and energy stored.
The project is located at the western end of Glengarry, approximately 25km from Invergarry. Its location offers several inherent advantages, including favourable geology and topography, enabling the use of short tunnels and a high vertical drop between the upper and lower reservoirs. Additionally, the project leverages existing hydro infrastructure, significantly enhancing its economic viability compared to other PSH projects and storage technologies currently in development.
The Fearna PSH project is being developed as a 50:50 joint venture with SSE Renewables, with Gilkes Energy leading the development phase. The project plans include the construction of a new power station and tunnels to connect SSE Renewables’ existing reservoir at Loch Quoich with a proposed upper reservoir at Loch Fearna.
In late 2024, the UK Government confirmed its commitment to implementing a Cap and Floor investment framework for long-duration electricity storage (LDES), including pumped storage hydro. The first application window for the LDES Cap & Floor mechanism is expected in 2025, and Fearna’s scale and competitive economics position it as a leading candidate for this program.
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