Key facts
- The UK government is supporting the development of three large-scale pumped-storage hydropower projects.
- These projects aim to diversify the UK energy mix, support a green transition, and boost energy security.
- The UK has historically relied on hydropower, which currently contributes about 2% of its electricity generation.
- New policy promotes investment in Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), including pumped hydropower storage (PHS).
- Three new PSH power stations are planned for Northern Scotland, utilizing local lochs.
- The projects are expected to be completed by the early 2030s and will be the first PHS projects since 1984.
The United Kingdom is prioritizing hydropower development as a key component of its strategy to enhance energy security and achieve its green transition goals. The government is backing three significant pumped-storage hydropower (PSH) projects, marking the first major new developments in this sector in over four decades. These initiatives are designed to diversify the nation's energy mix, which currently relies heavily on intermittent renewables like wind and solar, and to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and energy imports. Hydropower, one of the oldest renewable energy sources, converts the energy of moving water into electricity. While the UK has a history of hydropower dating back to the 1800s, it currently accounts for only about 2% of the country's electricity generation. The new policy, announced in October 2024, focuses on promoting Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), with PSH being a primary method. PSH systems utilize two reservoirs at different elevations to store and release energy, effectively acting as large-scale batteries. Currently, the UK has four PSH schemes, all publicly funded and established between the 1960s and 1980s primarily to store overnight nuclear power. By 2025, eleven PSH projects are expected to be under development, collectively offering over 10 GW of storage capacity and 200 GWh, potentially meeting 25% of the country's power demand. A study by Imperial College London suggests that new PHS could save up to £690 million annually in energy system costs by 2050. The recent approval by the UK energy regulator paves the way for three new PSH stations in Northern Scotland, utilizing natural lochs. These include Statera Energy's Loch Kemp project (using Loch Ness water), SSE's Coire Glas project (using Loch Lochy water), and Gilkes Energy's Earba project, which is anticipated to be the UK's largest PSH facility. These projects are slated for completion by the early 2030s, aiming to bolster the reliability of renewable energy and reduce vulnerability to volatile global energy markets, as highlighted by UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks.