Pumped storage | Scottish highlights


Pumped storage developments have been stalled in the UK for several decades, but exciting new developments are taking place in the Scottish Highlands


Above: Panoramic view from Ben Cruachan of Cruachan reservoir, dam and loch Photo courtesy of Draz


SSE CHIEF EXECUTIVE ALISTAIR Phillips-Davies has spoken in recent months about how he believes that accelerating offshore wind development is the cheapest and quickest route to a secure, clean and homegrown energy system in the UK. However, he warns that dramatically expanding wind power’s full potential will also require massive investment in grid infrastructure and amid all the debate one critical word is being overlooked – flexibility. Flexibility, Phillips-Davies says, holds the key to


References www.sse.com/news- and-views/2022/04/ why-investment-in-vital-net- zero-infrastructure-is-the-best- response-to-rising-energy-prices/


realising the full benefits of renewables. Put simply, “we need ways to capture wind power when there’s too much of it and store it for when it’s not windy enough”. “Network investments will help,” he admits, “but


Below: Turbine hall, Cruachan Power Station Photo courtesy of Drax


there’s another established British technology that can have a massive impact: pumped hydro storage.” SSE’s Chief Executive explains that his company is building the first large-scale pumped hydro storage scheme in the UK for more than 30 years. The 150MW Coire Glas project in the Highlands of Scotland is big enough to power three million homes for 24 hours on its own. Critically, it can be built without any subsidy, subject to some tweaks to regulation. Located on the shores of Loch Lochy near Invergarry, the scheme would double the current amount of electricity storage capacity in Great Britain and could deliver 1.5GW and 30GWh of long duration storage by 2030.


After a rigorous tendering process, in May 2022, SSE Renewables selected Strabag UK to undertake the exploratory works for the scheme. Scheduled to begin at the site this summer, the works will provide essential information on the nature of underground conditions at the location. The findings will be used to inform the final design of the project and will be an important consideration in SSE Renewables’ final decision on whether to proceed. The work will see the creation of a tunnel


approximately 4m wide and up to 1km long, which will cut into the hillside towards the proposed location of the underground powerhouse complex. Samples of the materials within the hill will be analysed, and survey and assessment work will be carried out to give a detailed understanding of the geological conditions. The information will then be used in detailed design of the tunnel and cavern support structures. In June 2022, it was announced that six short-listed


tenderers from around the world are taking part in the Invitation To Tender process to conduct the civil engineering and mechanical and engineering works at Coire Glas.


Reviews of the submitted tenders are now underway, following which, it is anticipated a preferred tenderer will be selected for the mechanical and electrical scope and two tenderers will be selected for the civil engineering scope. The preferred tenderers will work with the Coire Glas


team on a programme of extensive ground investigation works, running until autumn 2023, which will allow them to refine their proposed project designs. The construction phase of the project is scheduled to commence in spring 2024 and is expected to support up to 500 jobs. The six tenderers shortlisted for the main construction works were: ● Bechtel, Acciona Construcción S.A. and Webuild S.p.A consortium.


● BAM Nuttall, Eiffage Génie Civil SA and Marti Tunnel AG consortium.


● Dragados S.A and BeMo Tunnelling UK Ltd consortium.


● Strabag UK Ltd for the civil engineering scope ● Andritz Hydro GmbH and Voith Hydro GmbH & Co KG partnership


● GE Hydro France for the mechanical and electrical plant scope.


16 | July 2022 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


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