Gilkes Energy unveils plans for first pumped storage plant

8 February 2023


Gilkes Energy has announced details of the proposed 900MW Earba Storage Project in Scotland, the company’s first pumped storage hydropower scheme.

Earba Storage Project will store up to 33,000 MWh of energy, making it the largest such scheme in the UK in terms of energy stored. The proposal is to use Loch a’ Bhealaich Leamhain as the upper reservoir and Lochan na h-Earba as the lower reservoir. A tunnel approximately 3km long will connect the two water bodies.

A powerhouse will be constructed on the shore of Loch Earba which will extend deep underground. 

Commenting on the project, Carl Crompton Managing Director of Gilkes Energy said: "The Earba project is in an excellent location with the geography in the area providing some natural water storage, and allowing the project to be sensitively blended into the landscape.

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.”

The Earba Storage development would be a major civil engineering project. It is anticipated that the construction period would last approximately three to four years and the workforce would average 300 to 400 people on-site throughout this construction phase.

Public consultations on the project are due to be held later this month.

 



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